Khim Ming
Off to Hong Kong
I’ll be going off starting tomorrow to Hong Kong for a 5-days holiday. So, see you all next week.
Understanding Windows Vista Volume Activation 2.0 (VA 2.0) and Key Management Service (KMS)
With Windows Vista, comes the new licensing programme named Volume Activation 2.0 (VA 2.0). Below is an easy-to-digest FAQ to help you to get familiar with this.
What is Volume Activation 2.0?
VA 2.0 is a part of the Microsoft Software Protection Platform (think Windows Genuine Advantage) and the Windows Vista deployment solution. It helps enterprise to better manage their Windows Vista licensing.
1. Windows Vista is the first Microsoft product to use VA 2.0. Future products will follow this licensing programme.
2. Strangely, Office 2007 uses the old VA 1.0 instead.
3. There will be two types of license key under this programme: Multiple Activation Key (MAK) and Key Management Service (KMS)
4. Volume License Key (VLK) can only be used with Volume Licensing media (Vista Business and Vista Enterprise), and cannot be used to activate retail or OEM version of Windows Vista.
What is Multiple Activation Key?
1. Multiple Activation Key (MAK) can be used to activate specific number of computers.
2. Activation can be performed over the Internet or telephone.
3. Additional activation can be requested by contacting the Microsoft Activation Call Center.
4. MAK supports two kinds of activation method: MAK Proxy Activation and MAK Independent Activation.
5. MAK Proxy Activation enables centralized activation request on behalf of multiple desktops with one connection to Microsoft. This activation method will be available as a new solution called Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT).
6. MAK Independent Activation requires each computer to directly connect and activate against Microsoft.
What is Key Management Service?
1. Key Management Service (KMS) enables organizations to perform local activations for computers in a managed environment without connecting to Microsoft individually.
2. This activation method is targeted to organizations with more than 25 computers. KMS will only start to activate clients when there are at least 25 connected clients.
3. KMS runs on Windows Vista Client or Windows Server “Longhorn” on port 1688. KMS on Windows Server 2003 is under development.
4. Clients must renew their activation by connecting to the KMS Host at least once every 180 days. Inability to do so will have clients go into Reduced Functionality Mode (RFM).
5. Virtual machine doesn’t contribute to the KMS computer count.
The new Microsoft Live Book Search
Not much is happening in the Microsoft’s idea tank. Sometimes, Microsoft is just doing what others have been doing. Take the “new” Microsoft Live Book Search. Very similar to Google Book Search, it searches full text of books and all kinds of literature.
One notable feature is the return of infinite scroll bar in the search result page. You can just keep on scroll down without refreshing or going to the next page.
Wireless access point drains more power in Windows Vista
There are three default power schemes in Windows Vista: Power Saver, Balanced, and High Performance. As regular notebook user, I can easily switching to Power Saver mode when my notebook is running on battery.
With Power Saver mode enabled, Windows Vista automatically puts wireless adapter to its restful state, hence converses energy. Problem arise when outdated wireless access point doesn’t support wireless adapter operating in this mode, which results in connectivity, performance and throughput issues. In other words, wireless connection may be unstable when operating in power-saving mode.
To resolve this problem, Windows Vista set wireless adapter to operate in full power mode even when the notebook is in Power Saver mode. As a result, this drains more battery juice than necessary.
To be fair, wireless equipment vendor is partly responsible for the trouble as they should implement wireless access point power-save mode properly. Let’s hope this situation will change soon. In the mean time, just remember to turn off your wireless when you are not using.
Future bank, as envisioned by Microsoft
Banking in the future can be rewardingly fun.
Tags: Microsoft, Advertisement, Banking
MSN Soapbox rocks!
Now that YouTube is officially bought by Google for more than 1 billion bucks, it seems everyone want a piece of these so-called user generated content web sites market.
Well, here comes Microsoft. Always happy to play catch up, Microsoft is building a social video site called MSN Soapbox. Not sure why they brand it under MSN instead of the new Live.com. MSN Soapbox is currently in public beta, so you can request an invitation with your Windows Live ID. I recently received mine and did some exploration in this YouTube competitor.
Here what I like about MSN Soapbox:
1. Use Windows Live ID. No additional username/ password to remember.
2. Very responsive and interactive interface. Everything is basically click and appear. Fun to navigate. I love the way I can browse other videos while watching the current one on the right pane.
3. Video load time is excellent. Super fast.
4. Videos is linkable, and can be embedded.
5. Similar videos suggestions. Discover more on what you enjoy watching.
6. Support tags, categories, favourites, ratings and comments.
What I don’t like or I think it’s lacking:
1. No strong social networking elements. Unable to add users as friends.
2. No option to download video.
MSN Soapbox can be very interesting. Its easy navigation makes watching video extremely enjoyable and addictive. If you want an invitation, you can sign up here or send me an email. (me@khimming.com)
Here’s a Soapbox video for your preview.
Tags: MSN+Soapbox, Video, Microsoft, Web+2.0
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