Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack Released alongwith Retail Whitepapers

Microsoft has released Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack which can be downloaded by going through this link - Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack Release (You need to Sign in via PartnerSource or CustomerSource)

Below I have extracted From the Overview Page:

Microsoft has released Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack which is Microsoft ERP solution for enterprises that empowers people to anticipate and embrace change so business can thrive. It constitutes Microsoft's biggest releases that target five key industries: Manufacturing, Distribution, Services Industries, Public Sector, and Retail. This release also incorporates Microsoft Dynamics ERP RapidStart Services.

Microsoft Dynamics AX Feature Pack is generally available on February 1, 2012

The Microsoft Dynamics AX retail solution has been incorporated into the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. This release includes key feature enhancements in areas such as POS, multi-channel management, store management, merchandising, and more. The supply chain features described in the following section complement retail in addition to other industries.

Note: All functionality for retail, except for the sample POS plug-ins, are part of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack.

Supply Chain Management
The moving average inventory valuation method has been added to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. This method of inventory valuation is often used by retailers and wholesale distributors.
A fourth product/item dimension (style) has been added to better enable Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) support across Microsoft Dynamics AX.
Additionally, support for high volume sales processing has been added by enabling the import of sales invoices without requiring associated sales orders.

Service Industries
Support has been added for inter-company project time entry.

Industry Solutions
All of the industry solutions, Process Industries, Public Sector, Retail, and Service Industries, are now incorporated into the product and are installed the same way as other Microsoft Dynamics AX modules. Customers can enable or disable features by using configuration keys and can use features from multiple industry solutions. For example, a Public Sector organization can use the Retail POS capabilities, a pharmaceutical company involved in drug discovery and trials can use Service Industries and Process Manufacturing capabilities, or a wholesale distributor can use the Retail merchandising features.

Microsoft Dynamics ERP RapidStart Services
The connector required to configure an on-premise instance of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 instance by using RapidStart Services is now included in the installer. You no longer have to download it separately.

Also, you can download Retail Deployment and other whitepapers for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 directly from Microsoft Download Center

Respect to Microsoft

I was delighted to have received a tweeted apology from a product manager at Microsoft in response to my blog post about Microsoft closing my SkyDrive account, behaving like the Parisian police did in 1917.

I also received a personal email outlining Microsoft’s policy and how they had mistakenly applied it in my case.

I had further correspondence with the product manager on the subject of what Microsoft calls ‘established’ works of art. In which he described the ‘delicate balance’ Microsoft needs to take in dealing with 140+ countries on exactly what is and what is not obscene content – they are ‘constantly learning’ and, in my case they had ‘made a mistake.’

I do have some empathy as I recall when providing SMS subscription services for a UK mobile operator, in 2000. I was castigated by the operator’s product manager for allowing a joke to go out to several thousand subscribers which had the word 'school' spelt as 'skool'. Corporate monoliths such as Microsoft, mobile operators and others have to maintain ‘standards’, however these standards must reflect the times, if they are not to lose touch with their users.

What’s so refreshing with my case is the speed and candor with which Microsoft handled the situation, the tweet and subsequent correspondence clearly indicate that a monolith can have a human face, so respect to Microsoft they evidently want to keep in touch with the times and their users.

BTW My SkyDrive is open now and I am using it freely. At the risk of being accused of being a sycophant it is great value: 25GB on line plus 5GB sync making 30GB for free. With Google you ‘only’ have 9GB free – I have to pay 5$/yr for my extra 20GB

Further Google’s memory usage calculation across its services Gmail, Docs, and Picasa is complex, Microsoft's approach is much simpler so, for me Microsoft's SkyDrive tops Google’s Docs

Microsoft Xbox Kinect - Compatibility and Games

The Xbox Kinect allows a revolutionary wire-free game-play experience. Designed to compete with the Sony PlayStation Move and Nintendo's established Wii games console, we take a look at the origins of the Kinect system and review compatibility with older Xbox 360 consoles. We also review the best new games and look at the Kinect launch titles.

Origins of Microsoft's Kinect

Kinect was announced by Microsoft at the E3 technology show on 1 June 2009. At the presentation three demos were shown to showcase the system, these being Ricochet, Paint Party and Milo & Kate. A demo-only version of Burnout Paradise was also shown at he show.

Project Natal formally became Kinect at the 2010 E3 show where the redesigned Xbox 360 was also announced. This new version of the console has the additional Aux port to combine the USB data and power supplies required by the Kinect.

Kinect Compatibility

Microsoft has confirmed that the Kinect system will be fully compatible with all versions of the Xbox 360 console sold since its original release. It would appear that the new motion control system will considerably extend the product life of the Xbox 360 system. Combined with the recent refresh of the product line, the console should not see a replacement until around 2015.