Intermedia has started to Sponsor two of the Spiceworks Community groups MS Exchange and Unified Communications.

They are currently providing some cool information on hosted exchange 2010 email.

So better late than never, Spiceworks have got 4.6 early access out for everyone to try it out and give feedback.

The early access window was meant to run from March 3rd-11th, but due to some last minute issues was released a day late.

Please read the following posts on information on how the early access program will work. Please be sure to test your favourite 4.5 features as well as the new 4.6 features!

• 4.6 Testing Guidelines
• 4.6 Testing Plan

Progress Bar as Spiceworks Starts Up The first thing you will notice when you start up Spiceworks 4.6 is the new splash screen. It will give new users the chance to watch some videos on how Spiceworks can help them.
The registration box has also been cleaned up and a “existing user” link put on to help stop confusion.

Click read more for the rest of the review

Read More…

A full review with screenshots is on its way, for now here is the official release statement:

The first build of the Spiceworks 4.6 Early Access is now available for you to try out. Testing and feedback from you is an integral part of every release cycle and we appreciate the time and effort you put into giving us the feedback. In addition, you’ll be sure that the final release is a seamless upgrade for you.

Please read the following posts on information on how the early access program will work. Please be sure to test your favorite 4.5 features as well as the new 4.6 features!

• 4.6 Testing Guidelines
• 4.6 Testing Plan

Want to use your existing data?

Follow the instructions in the how-to on moving your installation. This build will automatically upgrade your data. Please note: The migration will take a while. Please be patient during the migration.

Want to submit a problem report?

Follow the instructions in 4.6 Testing Guidelines

We strongly caution you against using the early access build in production. If you hit a serious bug you may have to start from scratch!

Click Here To Download 4.6 Early Access Build I

md5sum = 1895c321f0aca5afcb9412f89ecc9342

Don’t forget the early access club opens tomorrow

We will be downloading and screen shoting all the new features for those who aren’t able to try it out.

Join now

In the past there has been lots of talk about getting a chat system into the community and finally we are seeing the start of it.

If you now go to the the Water Cooler Forum directly you can see a Spiceworks Chatroom Box

Nic is trying out having a chat frame in the Water Cooler forum directly, to gauge how much usage it will get (as well as how rowdy it becomes

If it does turn out to be something useful, he said hell look into setting up something more fully featured.

Post your comments and feedback

Spiceworks 4.6 New Features:

* Adjustable sizing for help desk tables
* Virtualization management
* Remote process-stopping
* Improvements to Network Map discovery
* Search & buy from within Spiceworks

Really looking forward to more on the virtualization management

So with the Feb Community Update Spiceworks added in a SpiceCorps meeting planner. The official word:

Now that you’ve got a SpiceCorps up and running, you’ll be needing to schedule meetings. If you are the SpicePioneer (or admin for the SpiceCorps group), you can send out an invitation to everyone who is a member of your SpiceCorps group. This will let you know how many people to expect and easily pass important information along to them.

For more information on starting a SpiceCorps, please visit this page.

The new feature lets SpicePioneers setup meetings quick and also automatically PM invitations to all members allowing them to RSVP.

When the meeting is over the SpicePioneer can put up meeting notes and the real attendance. Once the notes and attendance are done, points will be awarded both for attendance and for the meeting organizer.

The points system will give 100 points for attendees (up to 4 meetings a year).

Read more

So as before with the 4.6 features post we managed to get some info on the February Community Update, again these are unofficial and may change:

• Events Planner – In February we will see the start off the event planner which allows SpicePioneers to setup meetings and PM the group. Group members can then RSVP, and then the SpicePioneer can mark attendance to award Spice points.
• News tab on Whats New – shows the Official Spiceworks News so that you don’t have to pop back to the home page every time to see it.
• Show Peppers for Partners – This one I like the idea off, we will be able to see the SpiceLevel off the Spiceworks Partners that way everyone can see how active the they are, to give reputation to their answers. As well as start some friendly competition between them.
• Twitter name on profile – If you link your Twitter profile to your user status, Spiceworks will display your Twitter username on your profile.
• Notify when post is moved – PM all subscribers to a discussion when it is moved, so they know where it is now.
• Notify all spice voters when a Feature request is implemented – Anyone who has voted up a feature request will be notified when that feature request is implemented, this is designed to help show users how many get implemented.
• Bug fixes – As with everything there are bugs and the Feb release will have the normal bug fixes in as well.

So the 4.6 release of Spiceworks has been pinned for around Mid to late March and Unofficial Spiceworks has managed to get a Unofficial List of some new features and changes.

• Helpdesk Notifications – One thing people have wanted is to be notified when a ticket is assigned, so from 4.6 you will have the option to set a notification for notifies all admins when a ticket is assigned, so that they know a new ticket has been assigned.
• Helpdesk UI – The helpdesk UI will now allow you to resize the helpdesk view to show more tickets, and customize the view a bit more including we believe showing different fields on the main page.
• Notification Toolbar – The toolbar along the bottom will now show more information, such as your community inbox status and updates
• Network Map discovery – Spiceworks have been hard at work increasing the range of SNMP device discovery
• Loads of bug fixes – With every release Spiceworks will fix loads of bugs and 4.6 is no different.

As we hear more we will let you know.

Won’t be able to join us at CeBIT, but still have questions about Spiceworks you’d like to get answered?
Good News! Spiceworks would like to offer you the opportunity to submit your questions regarding Spiceworks & Social Media by posting in the thread below which will be answered in a live broadcast during the time Jay, Spiceworks Co-founder & Vp of Marketing, will be at CeBIT.

REMINDER! Spiceworks will also be hosting an event on 3 March from 16-18 in the “Frankfurt” conference room at the Convention Center. Here you will get the latest updates on Spiceworks’ new functions and product developments. Interested in attending or want free tickets to CeBIT? Send an email to katja@spiceworks.com
We look forward to hearing from you!

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