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Vice president of Microsoft and currently leading the Windows Phone team, Joe Belfiore is the man responsible for the user interfaces of Windows 95, XP and recently known for his work on the Zune platform. Today he revealed a change in the Windows Mobile platform with Windows Phone 7. Applications will be more tightly knit together than ever before, instead of living in their own little islands on the phone. In other words; less like a PC and more like a phone that actually can intermix information between different channels and applications. For instance, pictures and contacts integration with Facebook is only a touch away.

The feature low-down:

• 4-point touch screen functionality in the hardware is required for standard operation
• Simplified: A revamped start button leads to the Tile menu, which has a search function and a back-button
• Limiting UI-customization to the built-in options available in the OS itself
• No Adobe Flash support built-in, but Steve Ballmer was clear that they don’t mind Adobe at all – a kick towards Apple’s recent anti-Flash outbursts
• Release before Christmas is guaranteed

So, let’s bench up for Christmas and hope they can impress us this time around, after the very disappointing Mobile 6.5.

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Still accepting direct injection fuel

In MS SQL 2000 Management Studio it was possible to directly edit data when performing a query by using the “Open Table -> Query” menu option on a table. Microsoft changed things around for SQL 2005 & 2008, so that menu option is gone, but it can still be done. Here’s how to do it:

An effective way to do this is to first create an empty table AnEmptyTable that is easy to find at the top in Object Explorer.

Right-click your newly created table and click “Open Table”. As it is empty, this is much faster than opening any other table. At the top is a little button in the upper left which says “SQL” and a tooltip that says “Show SQL Pane”. Enable them both and voila! You can now run queries at the top and edit the results below.

Know a better way? Post comment please.

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Microsoft has released a free e-book entitled “Deploying Windows 7 – Essential Guidance from the Windows 7 Resource Kit and Technet Magazine”.

Written for IT professionals looking to learn more about the most common pitfalls and problems before starting out on the always intriguing task of upgrading the OS of all their corporate systems, or those who are just starting considering the matter, this should be a most handy resource. Grab your free copy of “Deploying Windows 7″ now.

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Microsoft attempts something different with their new marketing hype of the upcoming Office release 14, also known as Office 2010.

Launching www.office2010themovie.com, we’ re treated to some semi-witty movie trailer-esque videos. While showing us that Microsoft likes to be witty and creative with their marketing, they don’t really reveal much in detail about the new Office 2010 release (at the time of writing). So to make up for Microsoft’s shortcomings, I have included a video that shows some actual footage from the Office 2010  Technical Preview, courtesy of YouTube user lukychan.

You can actually sign up for the chance to try out the Office 2010 Technical Preview for yourself in July if you put yourself on Microsoft’s waitlist.

One important thing we do know is that it will be released in both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions. We also know that Microsoft is focusing on options for adapting the Office suite to suit the needs of different types of users. It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the final product.

Still, it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re still trying to recover from their dreadfully awkward Songsmith commercial. (Click “Read the rest…” below the Office 2010 videos following to see it. It’s not for the faint of heart, so consider yourself warned.)

Office 2010 The Movie Teaser Trailer:

Office 2010 Technical Preview:

Stomach Churning Songsmith Commercial: