TechReviewSource.com posted 8 things they want to see in Windows 8

"Windows 7 was just released this week and we are already starting to look ahead to Windows 8, which Microsoft is already in the process of developing even before 7 was released earlier this week. So far the reception of Windows 7 has been mostly positive and definitely better than Windows Vista, but there are still things we wish it had. Below are our top 8 things we want to see in Windows 8."

>> 8 Things We Want to See in Windows 8

Paul Thurrott reports that the Office 2010 Public Beta will be available in November

"Today, at Microsoft Corp.’s SharePoint Conference, Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer announced that the public beta of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 and Microsoft Office 2010 will become available in November."

>> Microsoft Office 2010 Public Beta in November

Maximum PC posted the 50 Best (and Worst) Moments in Windows History

"Windows' storied history isn't without its many bumps and bruises along the way, from record setting fines for anti-competitive practices to controversies surrounding Microsoft's WGA scheme. As Microsoft gears up to release its greatest OS to date, we celebrate the occasion by taking a trip down memory lane to where it all began, and how we got to this point. We cover the good, the bad, and the downright ugly."

>> The 50 Best (and Worst) Moments in Windows History

istartedsomething reports that Microsoft adds free root certificate authority to Windows

"A couple of weeks ago some very interesting Windows news flew by under the radars that I think deserves much more credit than it received, considering how much we rely on the web and the impact this has on making it safer.

In the September 2009 update to the Windows Root Certificate Program, Microsoft has added to the list of trusted root certificate authorities StartCom Ltd, notably its first member who issues amongst others free Class 1 digital certificates."

>> Microsoft adds free root certificate authority to Windows

Exchange Server 2010 has reached RTM

"The big news today is that Exchange 2010 is now code complete. The senior leadership team has signed off on the final code, and it has been sent to early adopters for a final look before its public release. This Release To Manufacturing (RTM) milestone means we are well on our way to general availability and launch at TechEd Europe in November."

>> Exchange Server 2010 RTM

Neowin reports that Windows Live Movie Maker will be released today

"Windows Live Movie Maker allows for direct YouTube, Facebook (through plugins), burn straight to DVD, save in 480, 720 or 1080p HD video format or play through your HDTV. Auto Movie allows users to easily create a video automatically for you in under one minute using selected images, captions, a title and soundtrack to go along with the slides.

The new Movie Maker comes with dozens of polished features over previous versions. Live Movie maker introduces a smarter storyboard, allowing faster and easier editing than before, audio editing in the storyboard is also available. Detailed animations are available for usage for adjusting videos and images with a range of filters and transitions."

>> Windows Live Movie Maker to be released today

Microsoft has released Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Release Candidate

"Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 RC helps you achieve new levels of reliability and performance by delivering features that simplify your administration, protect your communications, and delight your users by meeting their demands for greater business mobility. And when you download the latest software, you're automatically registered to access valuable product resources assembled in one convenient location.

Please review the Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 system requirements before you proceed. Actual requirements and product functionality may vary based on your system configuration."

>> Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Release Candidate

Neowin reports that more invitation e-mails were sent out to Microsoft Connect members for the Microsoft Office 2010 Technical Preview

"Available for download from the connect site are:
Microsoft Office Professional 2010
Microsoft Word 2010
Microsoft Excel 2010
Microsoft PowerPoint 2010
Microsoft OneNote 2010
Microsoft Outlook 2010
Microsoft Publisher 2010
Microsoft Access 2010
Microsoft Visio 2010
Microsoft SharePointDesigner 2010
Microsoft InfoPath 2010
Microsoft SharePoint Workspace 2010
Business Contact Manager for Microsoft Outlook 2010
Microsoft Outlook Connector
Microsoft Office Language Pack 2010 - English
Microsoft Office Language Pack 2010 - Japanese
Business Contact Manager for Microsoft Outlook 2010 Language Pack - Japanese
Business Contact Manager for Microsoft Outlook 2010 Database Tool

Upgrades are available for the matching architecture - 32-bit Office 2007 can be upgraded to Office 2010, but Office 2007 running on a 64-bit Operating system cannot be upgraded to Office 2010 - you must uninstall Office 2007 first."

>> Office 2010 CTP and Click to run released to more testers

Supersite for Windows published a preview on Windows Home Server Power Pack 3

"The Windows 7 beta test was notable--notorious, really--for a number of reasons. Chief among these is that those on the technical beta only received the same two public milestone builds--the Beta and Release Candidate (RC)--as did the general public. This led some testers to complain--fairly, I think--that they were afterthoughts to Microsoft and not able to supply the same level of feedback as they had on previous Windows betas. (Microsoft responded to this complaint by highlighting a ton most inconsequential changes it made to Windows 7 in the wake of feedback from the Beta release.)

But I'd point to another bit of misdirection that I find more damning. Throughout the Windows 7 beta test, representatives of Microsoft held semi-regular chats with testers, each of which targeted a specific Windows 7 feature. One of these chats, oddly enough, concerned Windows Home Server. And testers were told, quite explicitly, that Windows Home Server would not be updated to accommodate Windows 7 features like libraries, backup and restore, and Windows Search."

>> Windows Home Server Power Pack 3 Preview

SuperSite for Windows published a report on Office 2010 Technical Preview

"It's a challenge anyone in the movie industry can probably relate to: How do you follow-up an absolute, no-holds-barred, smash? And that issue, too, is most likely the impetus behind Microsoft's surprisingly funny Office 2010: The Movie promotion, in which the company is touting its upcoming office productivity suite as if it were a Hollywood summer blockbuster. Office 2010, following hot on the heels of Office 2007 (see my review), has a lot to live up to. And now that we've pretty much gotten over the innovative but jarring ribbon UI--it's been formally added to virtually all Office applications and services now--there's only one question remaining, and in the context of Microsoft Office, it's sort of a classic: How, exactly, do you improve on a product line that is as mature and full-featured as Office?"

>> Office 2010 Technical Preview

Neowin reports that an updated Office 2010 technical preview build has been leaked on the Internet

"Office 2010 build 14.0.4302.1000 is the latest to work its way out of the Redmond based software giant. Office 2010 has been surrounded with leaks from screenshots leaking early to beta builds leaking early.

Office 2010 promises tighter integration with Windows 7, full Ribbon UI for Outlook and compatibility with Microsoft's forthcoming Office Web Applications."

>> Updated Office 2010 technical preview build leaks

All About Microsoft posted a news story that Microsoft will start pushing Internet Explorer (IE) 8 to business users via Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) on August 25

"Microsoft already began pushing IE 8 to users via Windows Update and Automatic Update in April.

If WSUS admins aren’t ready/willing for IE 8 to install across PCs in their organizations, they should turn off auto-approve for the IE rollup, the IE team is advising."

>> Microsoft to push IE 8 to more business users in August

I just setup a new news category for Windows 7 related news. You can access it here and over RSS here.

Daniel Escapa posted another way to sign up for the Microsoft Office 2010 Technical Preview program

"I am sure many of you saw Office 2010 the Movie (http://www.office2010themovie.com/) where they are showing a short trailer promoting the upcoming Office 2010 Technical Preview. On that site you can also sign up to be a customer who can beta test the technical preview. When this came out I was super jazzed about this and then today I found out another way that people can get part of the technical preview! So I had to share with all of you.

There is another Microsoft Office 2010 Technical Preview program which is focused on consumers, students and home users. If you are one of these people and would like to try out the Office 2010 Technical Preview please go here: http://connect.microsoft.com/office/InvitationUse.aspx?ProgramID=3304&InvitationID=C2R-HKRJ-CMDH."

>> Sign up to try Microsoft Office 2010 Technical Preview

Microsoft has released Microsoft Security Essentials Beta

"Microsoft is offering it's free anti-virus product, Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) to 75,000 lucky people today.

The company is offering the product via a beta program and will likely extend the cap of 75,000 downloads depending on demand. MSE is Microsoft's free anti-virus and anti-spyware product that is set to replace Microsoft's paid Windows Live OneCare subscription service which is being withdrawn a week today."

>> Microsoft Security Essentials Beta released

All about Microsoft reports that Microsoft ready to launch beta of its free Morro antivirus offering

"Last fall, Microsoft announced its intentions to deliver a free replacement for its OneCare antivirus/anti-malware product for Windows PC consumers. Since then, company officials repeatedly have refused to provide any more info on Morro’s status (beyond the promised Q2/Q3 2009 launch date)."

>> Microsoft ready to launch beta of its free Morro antivirus offering

Ars Technica posted a news story that Microsoft offers a free TechNet Plus subscription as part of a pilot program

"A Microsoft TechNet Plus subscription is aimed at IT Professionals who want full-version Microsoft software, beta software, professional support incidents, managed newsgroup support, a technical information library, Microsoft eLearning courses, online concierge chat, the TechNet Magazine, and many other resources for evaluating, deploying, and maintaining Microsoft software. The subscription normally goes for $349 (download-only) or for $599 (download and DVD shipments). You want it free though, right? No problem: Canada link, US link, and UK link."

>> Free TechNet Plus subscription

SuperSite for Windows posted a preview on Bing, the next generation Windows Live Search engine

"Microsoft today revealed that its next generation Windows Live Search engine will be branded as Bing, confirming widespread rumors. The service, which is being tested under the codename "Kumo," will replace Windows Live Search later this year, Microsoft says. A public beta is expected June 3.

Of course, Microsoft's search engine has never done particularly well in the market against entrenched competitors like Google and Yahoo!. So the software giant is recasting Bing as a "decision engine" rather than a general search engine, a service that help people make decisions with more confidence. And Microsoft has settled on a number of popular but more complex search types that it says will differentiate it from the competition. These include shopping, travel, news, health, maps, images and video."

>> Bing Preview

Being Manan takes a look at the new features in Microsoft Office 2010

"Though I had a feeling that 2010 wasn’t going to be an upgrade to Office like what Windows 7 is to the Windows family. Having said that, Office 2010 Technical Preview does show some promising upgrades. In between giving my exams I did find some time to play around with the leaked version of Office 2010 & found some improvements over Office 2007. One of the biggest additions to Office 2010 will be it’s online collaboration capabilities I wrote about & we have some proof of that in the current Preview build. Here are some noticeable improvements in the technical Preview build"

>> Office 2010: New Features

Microsoft has released Visual Studio 2010 Beta 1

"It’s the next gen of next-gen applications. Download the Visual Studio 2010 Professional and Team System Betas and see for yourself how they’ve been designed inside and out to give you every advantage in creating groundbreaking applications — faster and easier than ever."

>> Visual Studio 2010 Beta 1