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Microsoft is working on a new video connector update for its Kinect sensor that will bridge the living room and the office. Microsoft announced plans to deliver the Video Kinect update “shortly.” View the full article

Microsoft has made available to a select group of testers a first beta of Service Pack (SP) 1 for Office 2010, Microsoft officials confirmed on November 17. View the full article

Microsoft launched the latest version of its unified-communications server, now known as Lync Server, on November 17. The Lync Server and client aren’t available for purchase until December 1, but a 180-day trial version is available to those interested in kicking the tires starting today. View the full article

Microsoft is making available to anyone interested a seventh developer preview build of its Internet Explorer (IE) 9 browser on November 17. View the full article

Just a year after setting up FUSE Labs as a dedicated social-computing lab, Microsoft is moving the team into its Microsoft Research division. View the full article

Microsoft offers a variety of virtualization solutions for those businessses that are resisting migrating to Windows 7 because of browser compatibility issues. Browsium Unibrows is a simpler, less expensive way to get there. View the full article

A year ago, shortly after the launch of Windows 7, Windows 7 PCs were a hot holiday gift item. But what about this year? View the full article

In this week's mailbag, what's going on with Windows Home Server "Vail," Google and Windows Phone 7, Exchange ActiveSync and desktop PC apps, Windows Phone 7 and wireless sync, differing Zune implementations on Zune HD and Windows Phone 7, and IE search modifications on Windows Phone 7. View the full article

Here’s a quick compendium of the latest on break-ups, HPC in the cloud and more Microsoft news from around the Web. View the full article

Microsoft has applied for a patent for an “automated, static safety verifier” that will help verify the type- and memory-safety of an operating system. And why should anyone care? There are some connections to other Microsoft projects (and potentially, products) worth considering. View the full article

Since April, it’s been quiet on the Windows 8 leak front. But here’s a new tidbit to keep the “what’s next for Windows” faithful going for a bit longer. View the full article

On the day Facebook is expected to throw its hat into the crowded and competitive e-mail ring, it’s worth noting what the current landscape looks like. View the full article

In the latest episode of the Windows Weekly podcast, Leo and I discuss the US launch of Windows Phone 7, what's really happening with Windows Phone 7, software updates, and the wireless carriers, Hotmail full session SSL encyrption, Microsoft Security Essentials on Windows Update, and yes, of course, Call of Duty: Black Ops. View the full article

Electronic Arts brings the classic board game to Windows Phone to great effect, with surprisingly durable gameplay, great graphics, and a good collection of achievements. View the full article

Windows 8 will be released in 2012 but news is already swirling about the operating system backing up to Microsoft's cloud storage service. According to Download Squad, a job posting, which has since been pulled, states that Microsoft is "working on a Windows Azure-based service and integrating with certain Microsoft online services and Windows 8 client backup. Many of the features we develop have ended up in the Windows Client and Windows Server OSes." The news does not specifically mention Windows Azure but it's clear any cloud-backup would be part of the Azure platform. Online storage for the every day user is a growing business. Microsoft is actually launching its own service in 2011 called Windows Live Mesh. It will replace Live Mesh beta. DropBox, Nomadesk and Mozy are just a few of the companies that now offer online backup services. Source: readwriteweb.com

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Gartner Inc. analysts have published a research note for their clients who are still stuck on Internet Explorer 6, offering guidance around “Solving the IE 6 Dilemma.” But none of options included are very palatable — at least not according to Gartner. View the full article

I joined Andrew and Tom on the What The Tech podcast this week to discuss Windows Phone 7, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and more. View the full article

Treyarch delivers the best Call of Duty game yet, with a history-based storyline in the single player campaign and a stellar multiplayer experience that will keep gamers occupied for the next year. View the full article

I looked at my install of Outlook 2010 and I can't find an option to turn it off. I have to agree that it could be dangerous although deleting the emails would only put them in the deleted folder so they would still be available. However if they have the client set to empty deleted on exit that wouldn't be good.

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Microsoft made available to testers this week a new beta build (2.0.522.0) of its next release of Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE), the company’s free anti-virus/anti-malware product for Windows. View the full article

It’s time for another (not so) crazy Microsoft rumor. This time, BFFs Facebook and Microsoft are the target of one of my good source’s tips. View the full article

On November 9, Microsoft filed its second patent suit in less than two months against Motorola. On November 10, Motorola fired back with its own patent suit against Microsoft. View the full article

The Windows Phone Alarms app has all the expected functionality, bundled into a nice Metro-style UI. But that's not what really sets it apart from similar apps on other mobile platforms. View the full article