Running the risk of sounding like a broken record, I posted before about Exchange 2007 being a 64-bit application only and the benefits for that.
You might want to know how this affects your enterprise. Is it ready? Is your hardware ready? Will other application support this?

It’s time for a fitting webcast hosted by Dell.

Register here:
http://searchwinit.bitpipe.com/detail/RES/1159391902_808.html?src=wc_swwit_fgru_10_03_06&asrc=EM_FGWC_584912

If you can’t afford to fly to Vegas for the Exchange Connenctions event and live in the UK you can instead show up at the MM&M for some healthy Exchange discussions.

register here:
http://www.mmmug.co.uk/forums/341/ShowThread.aspx#341

The Microsoft Exchange team just updated their article which is a useful tool for planning ahead for Exchange 2007.

 http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2006/09/25/428994.aspx

 It’s sort of like an independent Technet held  at Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas, NV on November 6-9, 2006.

It’s a bit more hands on and you can meet there some of the MS Exchange team along with some folk from Office and Vista groups and also a chance to win a Harley Davidson!

For more info and registration: 
 http://www.devconnections.com/shows/exchfall2006/d...p?s=86

WMDC (Windows Mobile Device Centre), is the new software in Vista that replaces ActiveSync and you cannot even install ActiveSync on Vista.

If you installed Vista RC1 and plugged in your Windows Mobile Phone (either Pocket PC or Smart Phone) and expected Outlook to start syncing you would be in for a rude shock. All Vista does is open the device in Explorer so you can browse it and get to explore files - but nothing to sync up. This is because the WMDC bits are not publicly released yet but are being dogfood’ed internally.

If you are like me and cannot wait then below are the steps you need to do to get your mobile sync between the device and Outlook / Exchange using WMDC (make sure you also read warning before you do anything):

1. 1. Add a new key called “WHOS” (without the quotes of course) in HKLM\Software\Microsoft. (See the image below on how this should look like with the blue circle around the key)
2. 2. Plug in your mobile to the machine (either via USB or your Cradle).
3. 3. Run Windows Update.

Windows Update should detect that you have a new update and download and install the WMDC bits. After which you can setup a new partnership to get this running with Outlook.

Warnings:

1. 1. This is not supported - so you are really on your own. If something breaks and/or you lose data please don’t come crying to me or Microsoft. At the end of the day, there is a good reason why MS has not released this yet.
2. 2. Delete any existing partnership from your mobile and make sure there is nothing associating it with another computer. I had issues setting this up as a Guest or even as another one and had to restart all over (including installing Vista), so to be on the safe side, delete the partnership!
3. 3. Back up your data - both on the machine and the device.
4. If you are not sure where to find WMDC – it should create a shortcut on your desktop. Also you can get to it via Mobile PC in the Control Panel (Control Panel\Mobile PC).

Below are some screen shots of this working on my machine. I also show the Control Panel and the Sync Centre.

Currently this is exposed via a MSI which essentially adds this key. Best of Luck!

It seems that Microsoft is now intent on releasing any product when in Beta 2 status to a wide circulation of users through the Internet. Through this they gain free QA for their products. They even made a few bucks on people paying  4$ to download Office 2007 Beta 2.

So, yesterday I downloaded Office 2007 myself, wishing to finally test it with my Exchange 2003 for now. After upgrading Outlook did not load. No Outlook safe mode, no nothing. I had to uninstall the Lookout plug-in to make Outlook start. When configuring Outlook services I had to resort to manual configuration for some reason. Trying again, setting up a new profile, auto-configuration worked well.

I like the Outlook UI though. It went through less radical changes than the rest of the Office suit which is okay by me for now. I had to install Windows Desktop Search from the Internet to replace my old Lookout and now I am sort of happy though I am stuck with searches hooked into my operating system UI. I am going on a UI diet though and will decide in a week which one will stay.

For those of you who use signatures, you can now create a nice HTML signature and insert a picture into it without activating Word. 

Some perliminary information regarding the upcoming Exchange 2007 exams.

They are expected to be more difficult as Microsoft struggles to maintain the importance of the MCSE status.

Read about it here:

http://searchwindowssecurity.techtarget.com/origin...0.html

Powershell is the new scripting language that will supersede VBScript and JScript. Exchange 2007 will have built-in powershell functionality, exposing *all* of its operations but as anb Exchange admin you can also use Powershell on Windows xp or 2003.

For example, you can check if your Exchange server is blacklisted on the Internet. If you have a large Exchange deployment this can be a really useful troubleshooting and monitoring tool.

 For more information check out Glen Scales superb blog: 

http://gsexdev.blogspot.com/2006/09/doing-rbl-or-m...n.html

Download Powershell RC1 here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?Fa...ang=en

I have always prefered Microsoft Windows CE now called Windows mobile, over the competition. I hated ActiveSync though and the whole synchrinzation process, especially with Exchange 2003 proved daunting for me and my customers. If you had to do one of these cold resets a few times you know what I mean. This is why I rejoice with every new version of ActiveSync, even a Beta one.
The latest version offers improvements in troubleshooting setup, partenerships and synchronization which exactly what I was hoping I would get a few versions back, but better late than never.

Fore more information and download:

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Microsoft_ActiveSync/1032484934/1

Whether your hot-button issue right now is email compliance, archiving or disaster recovery, the key to success is a solid understanding of how to manage underlying Exchange Server data.
SearchExchange.com provides you with some nice primers targeted at beginners, IT execs and possibly, MCSE students.

* All about .OST
http://go.techtarget.com/r/546423/209690

* A primer on .PST files
http://go.techtarget.com/r/546424/209690

* Tame your Exchange Server transaction logs http://go.techtarget.com/r/546425/209690

Now that you?ve built up your basic knowledge of Exchange data management matters, you can tackle that important email administration project with these helpful learning guides:

* Step-by-Step Guide: Email compliance to-do list http://go.techtarget.com/r/546426/209690

* Learning Center: Exchange Server archiving essential http://go.techtarget.com/r/546427/209690

* Best Practices Checklist: Exchange Server disaster recovery planning http://go.techtarget.com/r/546428/209690

For more information on Exchange Server data management, check out SearchExchange.com?s Exchange Data Management Reference Center by clicking here:
http://go.techtarget.com/r/546429/209690