The Microsoft Forefront Team announced the TAP for the next release of Forefront:

Can you believe it!? We have just shipped our first Forefront Service Packs and now the team is ramping up a Technology Adoption Program (TAP) for our next major release. The next version of the Forefront Server Security products will be bigger and better than previous versions, and so will the TAP.

This Microsoft Forefront Technology Adoption Program includes all products under the Forefront product line, not just Forefront Server Security products. These products are:

• Forefront Codename “Stirling” – (To learn more about “Stirling”, check out the “Stirling” site.)
• Forefront Client Security (FCS)
• Forefront Security for Exchange Server (FSE)
• Forefront Security for SharePoint (FSSP)
• Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA) integration with “Stirling”

Based on your needs, you can utilize just Forefront Security for Exchange, Forefront Security for SharePoint, or combination of the above products. The TAP program is a great opportunity for you and the Forefront product teams to collaborate and learn from each other. Your feedback is heard directly by the product team, helping you and us to improve the product. Feedback is taken in the form of general feedback, bugs reports, and Design Change Requests (DCRs). The program timeline is aggressive, starting November 19, 2007 and finishing in calendar year 2009.

To start your nomination for the Forefront TAP, please fill out the survey by:

1. Visiting the Microsoft Connect website
2. Signing into Connect with a Windows Live ID
3. Visiting the Available Connections page, and clicking “Apply” for the “Forefront TAP”

You will receive a response from Microsoft within 2 - 3 weeks.

If you have any questions regarding the program or the nomination process, please email kweather@microsoft.com or Stirtap@microsoft.com.

Now that Exchange Server 2007 SP1 has finally been released, there are a couple of downloads that you may wish to check:

• Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Release Notes - The Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Release Notes contain late-breaking information for Exchange Server 2007.
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 Unified Messaging Language Packs - Use unified messaging language packs to allow the Exchange Server 2007 system to speak additional languages to callers. This download contains pre-recorded prompts, for example “Welcome, you are connected to Microsoft Exchange” in the language specified by this download. It also enables text to speech translation such that content (e-mail, calendar, contact information, etc.) can be read to the caller in the language of the Unified Messaging language pack.
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) SDK November 2007 - The Exchange 2007 SP1 SDK November 2007 Documentation and Samples assists developers who are building applications for Exchange 2007 SP1. This release of the SDK provides new and updated information and sample code to help you develop collaborative enterprise applications for Exchange 2007 SP1.
  The README file contains installation instructions for and late-breaking information about the Exchange 2007 SP1 SDK November 2007 Documentation and Samples.
• Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server with Service Pack 1 - Forefront Security for Exchange Server SP1 integrates multiple scan engines from industry-leading security firms into a comprehensive, layered solution, helping protect your Microsoft Exchange Server messaging environments from viruses, worms, spam, and inappropriate content.
  This new release provides support for Exchange Server 2007 SP1 and Windows Server 2008, as well as content filtering and manageability enhancements.
• Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server with Service Pack 1 Readme

Microsoft Office Outlook Connector version 4 is now available for download.

Brief Description
With Microsoft Office Outlook Connector, you can use Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 or Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 to access and manage your Microsoft Windows Live Hotmail or Microsoft Office Live Mail accounts, including e-mail messages and contacts for free!

Overview
With Outlook Connector, you can use Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007 to access and manage your Windows Live Hotmail or Office Live Mail accounts, including e-mail messages and contacts for free! Calendar, tasks and notes can also be accessed and managed in Outlook for accounts with a paid subscription.
Outlook Connector enables you to use your Live Hotmail accounts within Outlook:

• Read and send your Office Live Mail/Windows Live Hotmail e-mail messages.
• Manage your Live Mail Contacts.
• Use advanced options for blocking junk e-mail messages.
• Manage multiple e-mail accounts in one place.

With a paid subscription, Outlook Connector enables these additional features:

• Manage, share, and synchronize your Windows Live Calendar in Outlook.
• Access your Tasks and Notes.

System Requirements

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows Vista; Windows XP

• This download works with the following Office programs:
  • Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
  • Microsoft Office Outlook 2007

• The following is also required:
  • Internet access via dial-up or broadband (provided separately); local or long-distance charges may apply

• For Calendar Tasks and Notes Functionality
  • A paid subscription-based e-mail account from MSN Hotmail, Windows Live Hotmail or Office Live

Microsoft released Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) SDK November 2007.

Brief Description
This release of the Exchange 2007 SP1 Software Development Kit (SDK) Documentation and Samples provides new and updated documentation and samples for building applications that use Exchange 2007 SP1. Use this SDK to help you develop collaborative enterprise applications for Exchange 2007 SP1.

Overview
The Exchange 2007 SP1 SDK November 2007 Documentation and Samples assists developers who are building applications for Exchange 2007 SP1. This release of the SDK provides new and updated information and sample code to help you develop collaborative enterprise applications for Exchange 2007 SP1.
The README file contains installation instructions for and late-breaking information about the Exchange 2007 SP1 SDK November 2007 Documentation and Samples.

System Requirements

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows 2000; Windows 2000 Advanced Server; Windows 2000 Professional Edition ; Windows 2000 Server; Windows 2000 Service Pack 2; Windows 2000 Service Pack 3; Windows 2000 Service Pack 4; Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1; Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 for Itanium-based Systems; Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition for 64-Bit Itanium-Based Systems; Windows Server 2003, Datacenter x64 Edition; Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems; Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition; Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition; Windows Vista

• Disk Space 17 MB disk space required to download.
• Code Samples The code samples provided with this SDK require Exchange Server 2007. Whether a specific sample must be run on a computer on which Exchange Server 2007 is installed depends on which technology the sample uses.
• Microsoft .NET Framework Some of the code samples require that the Microsoft .NET Framework version 2 or later versions be installed.
• Document Explorer This SDK requires that you install Microsoft Document Explorer 2005, or Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 or later versions. The installer for this SDK will determine whether an appropriate document explorer is available.

While we eagerly await for the final release of Service Pack 1 for Exchange 2007, Microsoft continues to update its documentation.

Here are the latest releases:

• Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Release Notes - The Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Release Notes contain late-breaking information for Exchange Server 2007.
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 Help - This download contains a standalone version of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 SP1 Help.
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 Shell Help - This download contains the Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) version of the Exchange Management Shell Help.

Microsoft released several new technical documents for DPM 2007:

• System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 Troubleshooting Guide - Provides troubleshooting guidance for DPM 2007 issues such as performance, tape library management, and data recovery.
• System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 Frequently Asked Questions - Provides answers to frequently asked questions about System Center Data Protection Manager 2007.
• System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 Known Issues - English - Provides known issues and resolutions for System Center Data Protection Manager 2007.
• System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 Operations Guide - English - Provides targeted practical guidance for performing the most frequent and critical administrative tasks in DPM 2007.

These aren’t new, but don’t forget to read How to protect Exchange with DPM 2007 datasheet and Protecting Exchange Server with DPM 2007 White Paper.

Microsoft released version 9.1.1097.0 of its popular anti-malware software. The trials are available for download.

• Microsoft Antigen for Exchange with Antigen Spam Manager with SP1 Trial Software - The Messaging Security Suite includes Antigen for Exchange, Antigen for SMTP Gateways, and Antigen Spam Manager, and provides server-level protection against the latest e-mail threats.
• Microsoft Antigen for SMTP Gateways with Antigen Spam Manager with SP1 - The Messaging Security Suite includes Antigen for Exchange, Antigen for SMTP Gateways, and Antigen Spam Manager, and provides server-level protection against the latest e-mail threats.

Microsoft released a minor update to its Transporter Suite for Lotus Domino (v08.01.0232).

Brief Description
Microsoft Transporter Suite for Lotus Domino is used for interoperability and migration from Lotus Domino to Active Directory, Exchange Server 2007, and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.

Overview
Transporter Suite configures Directory and Free/Busy interoperability between Lotus Domino 6 or 7 and Exchange Server 2007 and Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and migration of users, mail and applications from Lotus Domino 5, 6 or 7 to Active Directory, Exchange Server 2007, and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.

And if you’re interested in Notes to Exchange migration, be sure to check this post from the Tools for Moving to Collaboration Platform Blog: Domino to Exchange Messaging Migration Tools Solutions Matrix.

I’m a big fan of the Hey, Scripting Guy! column. Those guys have just compiled all the scripts from the first three years in one fully-searchable archive.

Hint: search for the word “exchange” and you’ll find very useful scripts.

The Hey, Scripting Guy! Archive: Volume 2 (August 2004 - September 2007) - The first three years of the Hey, Scripting Guy! column (give or take a month) gathered together in one fully-searchable archive. This HTML help file includes all the text, graphics, and hyperlinks for well over 800 Hey, Scripting Guy! columns.

By the same time, the guys from Sesame Script also had the same idea, so if you’re in for scripting go ahead and download the Sesame Script, 2005-2007.

The complete collection of Sesame Script, the beginning scripting column published each month in the TechNet Script Center. All the columns published in the past two years (through the September, 2007 edition) have been collected in a fully-searchable help file, with individual topics arranged by category.

Microsoft released version 1.1 of Windows PowerShell Graphical Help File.

Overview
View the Windows PowerShell 1.0 help (including cmdlet help and the About topics) in a fully-searchable, graphical format (a standard Windows .chm file). Also included in the help file is the VBScript to Windows PowerShell Conversion Guide and a collection of PowerShell Tips of the Week.

And after yesterday I mentioned Windows PowerShell 2.0 CTP, there’s also available Windows PowerShell Graphical Help File (Version 2.0).

Overview
View the Windows PowerShell 2.0 help (including cmdlet help and the About topics) in a fully-searchable, graphical format (a standard Windows .chm file). Also included in the help file is the VBScript to Windows PowerShell Conversion Guide and a collection of PowerShell Tips of the Week.