The 'Orion' update for Microsoft's Dynamics customer relationship management (CRM) package isn't due out to customers until the end of the year. However, Microsoft showed off a preview version of the Modern interface, which will also form the basis for new Dynamics mobile apps, during TechEd 2013 last week. Here's what we saw.

Earlier in the month, we attended TechEd 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. During a press shindig, one of Microsoft's American PR representatives asked us to name Australia's ten best movies with the stipulation that they actually be capable of entertaining non-Australians. This proved to be a surprisingly difficult undertaking...

Takeaway Truth is an occasional Lifehacker feature where we compare marketing images against what you actually get served. Today: McDonald's Bacon Habanero Ranch Quarter Pounder.

While the emphasis is very much on software development and enterprise products at TechEd 2013, Microsoft also highlighted a handful of Windws 8.1 hardware devices, including the freshly-announced Acer Iconia W3.

Brief news items of note for Lifehacker readers including: Phoenix Wright comes to iPad in HD, TechEd 2013 kicks off next week, Top 5 relaxing tips.

OK, so you guys are amazing. We were highly impressed with the quality of entries from our IT Pro readers seeking the chance to travel to New Orleans and help us cover TechEd 2013 North America in June. So who are the two well-deserved winners that will help us post from the event?

Tomorrow we'll announce the winners of our competition for two lucky readers to win a trip to TechEd North America in New Orleans, courtesy of the Windows Server 2012 team at Microsoft. We already know two people who are attending: Lifehacker Australia editor Angus Kidman and David Klemke, our prize-winning blogger from TechEd Australia last year. While we wait for the winners announcement, David and Angus share what they're looking forward to from the trip.

Yes, entries for our competition to win a trip to TechEd North America in New Orleans close on 1 May. That's tomorrow. If you haven't entered yet, there really is no time like the present. We'll be announcing the winners later this week; don't you want to be on that list?

This is the last weekend before our competition to win a trip to TechEd North America in New Orleans in June finishes. Don't miss this chance to increase your knowledge and get involved with Lifehacker's World Of Servers project. Hit the competition post for full details.

The very first challenge in our competition to win a trip to TechEd North America in New Orleans asks you to explain how Windows Server 2012 could improve your infrastructure. Fortunately, that's a question with many possible answers.

Don't forget there's still team to enter our amazing Windows Server 2012 competition and win a trip to TechEd North America in New Orleans in June. Don't miss this chance to increase your knowledge and get involved with Lifehacker's World Of Servers project. Hit the competition post for full details.

One of the questions in our World Of Servers competition to win a trip to TechEd North America in New Orleans asks entrants to explain the difference between private cloud and public cloud to TV legend Betty White. We're encouraging people to use video to make their entries stand out, and to prove our commitment to the cause we persuaded editor Angus Kidman to demonstrate the idea by doing a bad impersonation of White's Golden Girls co-star Estelle Getty.

There's still plenty of time to enter our World Of Servers competition to win a trip to TechEd North America in New Orleans, and we've been enjoying the entries so far. Case in point: the entrant who described the unexpected way one large server room got put to use.

One of the challenges in our World Of Servers competition to win a trip to TechEd North America in New Orleans involves confessing your data centre secret. At last week's Microsoft Managent Summit in New Orleans, I heard a doozy.

Know your way around Windows Server? Fancy a fully-paid trip to TechEd 2013 in New Orleans this June? Thanks to Microsoft, Lifehacker is offering two of our IT Pro readers the chance to travel to North America for TechEd 2013 North America and help write about the event for us as part of our World Of Servers coverage. Are you up for the challenge?

The picture above shows a portrait of Saint Jude the Apostle, the patron saint of impossible causes. One of the entrants in our World Of Servers competition to win a trip to TechEd North America in New Orleans confessed to keeping a picture of this saint in the data centre. We'd like to think nothing's impossible in a data centre with the right gear, but it certainly grabbed our attention. Reckon you can grab it more?

We've seen some great entries already for our World Of Servers competition to win a trip to TechEd North America in New Orleans, but that doesn't mean we don't want to see more. Bonus tip: you can stand out from the crowd by going beyond text and including photos, diagrams, code or videos -- just include links in your entry. New Orleans awaits -- don't miss your chance!

One of the challenges we've set to enter our competition to win a fully-paid trip to TechEd North America in New Orleans in June is telling us why New Orleans is a great location for a technology event. If you need a little inspiration in that department, here are five random facts about New Orleans that might help fire you up.

The weekend is almost here -- which means you have time to work on your entry for our awesome Windows Server 2012 competition and win a trip to TechEd North America in New Orleans in June. It's the perfect opportunity to improve your skills, increase your knowledge and get involved with Lifehacker's World Of Servers project. Hit the competition post for full details. Good luck!