The M365 Toolman

As usual, I’ve been too busy rfeading other blog posts about the recent announcements, sleeping, or traveling to visit customers to be one of the first to talk to you about the new “Refresh”-ed version of Beta 1. 

• PC Magazine has a story about the refresh.  (It’s also got a slide show of images)

The Non-Disclosure period for many of the Server-side functions that have not already been announced is going to be expiring in the next week or so.  It’ll be great to be able to talk in more detail about the server-side pieces of SharePoint Server 2007.  In the meantime, if you want to start looking up more details about the next version, you can start with this list of blog entries…

• Dustin Miller’s list of features in SharePiont “v3”


• The live, updated version of Dustin’s list

The blog has been quiet for a while.  I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas, and best wishes for a most excellent 2006.

To start the year off the right way, here’s a list of SharePoint and collaboration webcasts coming up in January…

• Jan 10 – Executive Circle Webcast: Empower People to Work Better Together with Microsoft Collaboration
  
• Jan 11 – Executive Circle Webcast: Collaboration Technologies in Healthcare
  
• Jan 16 – TechNet Webcast: Integrating Your SharePoint Technologies with Project 2003
  
• Jan 16 – MSDN Webcast: ASP.NET Soup to Nuts: Server Controls
  
• Jan 19 – TechNet Webcast: Understanding the Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server Architecture
  
• Jan 23 – TechNet Webcast: Upgrading to SQL Server 2005
  
• Jan 24 – Executive Circle Webcast: Cost-Effective and Flexible Team Collaboration Solutions
  
• Jan 25 – Executive Circle Webcast: HP Scales Knowledge Management Using SharePoint
  
• Jan 25 – Executive Circle Webcast: Seven Steps to Improving Business Decisions Through Real-Time Collaboration
  
• Jan 26 – Executive Circle Webcast: Adding Resilience to Structured Workflow with People-Oriented Processes
  
• Jan 26 – MSDN Webcast: Designing Workflow in Your Web Applications
  
• Jan 26 – MSDN Webcast: Workflow Authoring Using a Combination of XAML and Code
  
• Jan 26 – MSDN Webcast: Creating Web Site Portals with DotNet Nuke
  
• Jan 30 – MSDN Webcast: ASP.NET Soup to Nuts: User Settings
  
• Jan 31 – Executive Circle Webcast: Increasing Access to People and Information with Collaboration Technologies

 

Jason Mauer and I presented the debut session of a Office Server Workshop this afternoon in Bellevue.  We played to a packed house (well, there were a few empty seats) of 45 and had a good time exploring some pieces of Office “12” Server.  I’d like to take a minute again to point everyone to the PDC 05 recorded content that is still available online.  I think it is supposed to be available until March or so. (6 months from PDC, right?)  I think that is still the best way to get an introduction to Office “12” Server.  That is, if you can’t make it to our Portland edition of this presentation, next week, Dec 13th…  Another good way is probably to check out http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview.

 

I know this isn’t the most current post, but I need to record it here for those that use this page as their home page.

• Windows SharePoint Services Administrator’s Guide – updated for SP2


• SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Administrator’s Guide – updated for SP2

We’d like to announce the resumption of SharePoint User Group meetings in the great Pacific Northwest.

December Topic: 
      Preview and Demo of the Next Version of SharePoint
      Preview and Demo of the Next Version of Content Management Server
      Preview and Demo of the Next Version of Microsoft Office
      Review of related PDC 2005 Announcements

 Upcoming Schedule:

Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Microsoft Bellevue Office
205 – 108^th Ave NE, 4^th Floor, Bellevue 

Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Microsoft Portland Office
10260 SW Greenburg Rd, 6^th Floor, Portland

       Time:  11:30AM – 1:30PM; Lunch will be provided.
       Driving directions and more information about each office is available in the above links.

Contacts:
      Chris Barnard, Portal Specialist
      Jason Mauer, Developer Evangelist
      Owen Allen, Portal Technology Specialist           

Please feel free to share this information with your friends and neighbors and significant others. (?)
Demos, food, and free prizes.  What’s not to love? 

CorasWorks is presenting a SharePoint “Workspace Workshop” in Seattle on November 14th.  This is a hands-on workshop focusing on using their products with SharePoint.  It is a free workshop, but registration is limited.  Attendees will have a workstation provided for.  This is part of a tour of cities for the workshop.  See the CorasWorks events site for information about registration and other cities.

SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Service Pack 2 was released today.  Download here. 

SP2 introduces support for the following: 

·         Support for running on 64-bit machines in 32-bit emulation mode

·         Support for Reverse Proxy and Alternate URL support

·         Support for IP-Bound virtual servers

·         Support for off-box SSL termination

·         Support for SQL Server 2005

Lastly, SharePoint Portal Server 2003 with SP2 will be Kerberos-enabled by default.

Hey look! – More hands-on lab goodness from the SharePoint folks!  Download here, and go get all “hands-on” and stuff. 

Scenarios included are: (Yes, I know you can see the list by following the link)

• building a divisional portal site


• deploying custom web apps that integrate with the portal


• using SQL2000 Reporting Services to track portal usage


• customizing the portal user interface

CorasWorks is coming to the Seattle area to deliver a workshop about SharePoint development using their webparts.  This is a full day workshop covering design patterns and bext practices for SharePoint development.  Check the web site for more details.