Is the worst yet to come? We just saw $1.2 trillion dollars vaporize...it's a scary situation.
Anyone remember Gordon Gecko's speech from the cult classic 1987 movie, Wall Street?
Long live, Free Markets! Long live, Capitalism!
-Mithun Dhar
Technorati Tags:
Markets,
Dday,
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I recently started subscribing to a few Indian Cable Channels and the first thing I noticed was the quality of ad's on Indian TV! The ad's are more colorful, more lively and overall more appeasing than the ad's that I see here. Here's one recent ad, that's so well done...it's in Hindi but you really don't need to understand the language to get the message.
Background: It's an ad for New York Life Insurance and the jingle says What's life without a few wishes, Hope for more!
This is by far the best collage tool available in the market. It's so simple to use and the results are stunning.
Try the free trial! You can read more about it HERE!
-Mithun Dhar
- > 3500 hours of Content streamed Live.
- LIVE coverage of every minute of competition from 25 sports.
- More than 2.3 terabytes/second of traffic on the MSN Portal
- An unprecedented moment in the history of the Internet.
Here are the ways in which you can enjoy the Olympics...
Click http://www.nbcolympics.com/video to jump right in and experience high-quality, interactive video using Silverlight. This could even be better than being in Beijing! Get amazing, crisp HD video quality on the web that’s always optimized for your connection using Silverlight’s new adaptive streaming capability, watch up to four live streams simultaneously in the same player, and get expert commentary (hot-linked so you can go back right to the exact moment that Michael Phelps touches the wall for gold) all within a rich Silverlight application running within the browser.
![clip_image001[6]](http://blogs.msdn.com/blogfiles/mithund/WindowsLiveWriter/OlympicsNowShowingataMediaCenterNearYou_D8C7/clip_image001%5B6%5D_thumb.jpg)
The MSN homepage will prominently feature a dynamic Olympics module which will enable people to see results (or hide them if you don’t want any spoilers), get the latest news and see exclusive video coverage. Our partnership with NBC and the world-class editorial team in MSN will make MSN the best portal for up-to-the-minute Olympics coverage.
![clip_image001[8]](http://blogs.msdn.com/blogfiles/mithund/WindowsLiveWriter/OlympicsNowShowingataMediaCenterNearYou_D8C7/clip_image001%5B8%5D_thumb.jpg)
Get the latest medal counts by sport or by country, or find out about all 10,000 of the athletes competing in the 2008 Summer Games using the Live Search Olympics Instant Answer
Install the new MSN Toolbar that gives you one click access to the medal tally and many other highlights.
Beginning August 9th, Zune Marketplace will kick off a series of daily 2008 Olympic Games videos from NBC Sports, giving viewers special on-the-go access to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. For approximately 99 cents–$1.99 per episode (with post-Games content TBD), footage will include memorable highlights from the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, “best of” compilations, “best match” replays and a post-Games wrap-up feature. Users will be able to download each episode onto their Zune device for viewing whenever and wherever they go. Additionally, XBOX users will be able to purchase and download a daily wrap-up of the day’s events from NBC Sports, with a complete wrap-up at the end of the Games.
In addition, we are launching NBC Olympics On the Go in Windows Media Center, an Internet-delivered catch-up TV service from NBC Universal powered by Wavexpress’ TVTonic platform. This free download-and-play service differentiates Windows Media Center as the platform with the highest-quality Internet-delivered Olympics experience in the USA.
You simply launch Windows Media Center and scroll down to the Online Media strip where you will find a link to NBC Olympics On The Go in default view. Follow the simple one-time installation steps and you’re ready to go.
![clip_image001[10]](http://blogs.msdn.com/blogfiles/mithund/WindowsLiveWriter/OlympicsNowShowingataMediaCenterNearYou_D8C7/clip_image001%5B10%5D_thumb.jpg)
With NBC Olympics On the Go in Windows Media Center, you will get:
· NBC Sports’ complete on-air HDTV coverage of the Beijing Olympics on the NBC, USA and Universal networks – even when you don’t have a TV tuner for your Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate PC
· 225 hrs of long-form Olympics video over 17 days
· 24 sports, full opening ceremony, and a closing ceremony montage
· Up to HD quality, with the vast majority of the video delivered in 840x480 progressive scan resolution at 1.5 Mbps bit rate, plus several events per day delivered in 1080i resolution
· Easy to install
· Select the sports you want and get automatic downloads of all available coverage for those sports during the Olympics
· Content becomes available as soon as NBC completes its primetime on-air coverage on the West Coast (i.e., beginning at 3 am EDT)
· Watch online or offline – during your morning commute or through any Extender device
· Rewind, fast-forward and re-watch your favorite Olympics moments
Enjoy the Feast! Welcome to the Social...
-Mithun Dhar
Well, if you haven't already started using SQL 2008 then it's about time!
Microsoft yesterday announced the RTM of SQL 2008. You can get all the information about it HERE! You can also install a trial version of it from HERE! While you are there be sure to check out the Overview Demo of SQL 2008. It very elegantly explains the why/what of SQL 2008.
If you attended the launch events don't forget to use your coupon to redeem a free version of SQL 2008.
Enjoy!
-Mithun Dhar
I can bet, it'd be a lot better on Windows Server 2008 :)
Let's coexist!
-Mithun Dhar
We're hiring! Here's more information...
Job Posting
Reach out to me if you are interested!
-Mithun Dhar
Amidst all the latest and greatest Web 2.0 companies two of them stand out! For starters, they are useful! :)
The first one is Fring. In about 5 minutes you can set up your mobile phone to communicate 'smartly' with all your IM buddies. Not only do you have a consolidated IM Client on your phone but you can also use your phone as a very effective VOIP communicator. You can directly call the PC (IM Buddies) via your phone. Alternatively, your IM buddies can call you on your phone once the Fring client is installed. This is very useful for me and it has nearly cut my international calling calls by more than 70%. I no longer use calling cards or annoying super high cost international calls. Gotta love technology!
The second company that is revolutionary and changing the game is SlideShare. It's aptly called the youtube for slides. I love this concept! This is so useful for me as I am now able to share my slides to the masses in 2 easy steps: Upload & Publish. Be sure to visit the site for some awesomely entertaining and educating slides.
Give it a shot and rest assured, you'll love both of these unique services.
-Mithun Dhar
I've told this many times before and I'll tell it again, 'Mojave' is great! What's Mojave? you ask! Well, Mojave is nothing but Windows Vista!
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-9998336-56.html?tag=nefd.lede
REDMOND, Wash.--After months of searching for ways to defend its oft-maligned Windows operating system, Microsoft may just have found its best weapon: Vista's skeptics.
Spurred by an e-mail from someone deep in the marketing ranks, Microsoft last week traveled to San Francisco, rounding up Windows XP users who had negative impressions of Vista. The subjects were put on video, asked about their Vista impressions, and then shown a "new" operating system, code-named Mojave. More than 90 percent gave positive feedback on what they saw. Then they were told that "Mojave" was actually Windows Vista.
"Oh wow," said one user, eliciting exactly the exclamation that Microsoft had hoped to garner when it first released the operating system more than 18 months ago. Instead, the operating system got mixed reviews and criticisms for its lack of compatibility and other headaches.
People, I have been using Windows Vista from it's beta time frame. And, I can't tell you how great this OS is. I'm not touting about Vista because I'm a Microsoft employee but I'm talking about it because it is REALLY a good OS. The best way to test this OS is to 'TRY' it for a month or two. And then, if you have problems roll back to Windows XP. Rest assured, you'll find a difference. One important thing to keep in mind is the bare minimum RAM requirement. Talking from my experience, you need at least 2GB RAM with a good graphics card to take complete advantage of the OS. And, in these days 2 GB ain't much!
Try Mojave aka Windows Vista!
Update:
Here's the video's, etc....http://www.mojaveexperiment.com/
-Mithun Dhar
Next Wednesday, on July 30th - We are meeting at Lincoln Square, Bellevue WA (on the 15th floor) to discuss about MS Build and how to effectively use Team Build. Be sure to Register for this session. Here's an overview from the Seattle Team System site.
Title: Using MSBuild to extend Team Build
When: 6:30 PM on July 30, 2008
Where: Microsoft Offices at Lincoln Square in Bellevue Downtown
Registration Link:
http://www.clicktoattend.com/invitation.aspx?code=130046
If you are unable to attend in person, you can also attend via live meeting using this link -
https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/join?id=2NDF2Z&role=attend
Audio Information
Computer Audio
To use computer audio, you need speakers and microphone, or a headset.
Telephone conferencing
Choose one of the following:
• Start Live Meeting client, and then in Voice & Video pane under Join Audio options, click Call Me. The conferencing service will call you at the number you specify. (Recommended)
• Use the information below to connect:
Toll-free: +1 (866) 500-6738
Toll: +1 (203) 480-8000
Participant code: 8520141
First Time Users:
To save time before the meeting, check your system to make sure it is ready to use Microsoft Office Live Meeting.
Troubleshooting
Unable to join the meeting? Follow these steps:
1. Copy this address and paste it into your web browser:
https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/join
2. Copy and paste the required information:
Meeting ID: 2NDF2Z
Location: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft
If you still cannot enter the meeting, contact support
Speaker: Shad Timm
VSTS Consultant, Northwest Cadence
Overview:
To extend Team Build effectively, you need to know MSBuild! Come learn the basics of MSBuild, and how to extend MSBuild to support your automated build needs!
-Mithun Dhar
This August I'll be hosting two fun filled geekSpeak sessions...
- Learn all about WCF (well, almost all :)) and see why WCF is the NEW .NET when we talk to Juval Lowy on August 13th. Be sure to REGISTER
- And, on the 6th of Aug tune in to learn 'How to make SharePoint not look like SharePoint' when we geekSpeak with Paul Stork! REGISTER
Be sure to register for these sessions and if you want more topics or if you have Speaker recommendations...leave me a comment! We are always looking to have great speakers on this show!
-Mithun Dhar
I've been away from the blogsphere for a while now! All this while, I was busy wrapping up stuff for FY08 and charting out activities for FY09.
I'm really excited about FY09 and you'll read all about it in this up coming MSDN Flash Newsletter (If you aren't already subscribing it, I strongly recommend it!)
It's my goal this year to take a cruise someplace nice. Needless to say, my wife is super excited! Anyway, while I was researching for it, I came across this new service that the Indian Railways has been offering...check it out, and it costs less than $250 for a week! It's a different sort of cruise...
There was a Microsoft Reunion of the original 11 employees! (Sans Bob Wallace who passed away)
I can't seem to get my hands on a high res picture just yet, but will soon upload with one of those...for now here's this...
Microsoft's founding employees gathered in 1978 to take a portrait before the company moved to Washington. Front row (left to right): Bill Gates, Andrea Lewis, Marla Wood, and Paul Allen. Middle row: Bob O'Rear, Bob Greenberg, Marc McDonald, and Gordon Letwin. Back row: Steve Wood, Bob Wallace, and Jim Lane. Not pictured is Miriam Lubow.
Microsoft's original employees got together to reshoot the famous photo in April. Front row (left to right): Bill Gates, Andrea Lewis, Miriam Lubow, Marla Wood, and Paul Allen. Back row: Bob O'Rear, Steve Wood, Bob Greenberg, Marc McDonald, Gordon Letwin, and Jim Lane. Not pictured is Bob Wallace, who has passed away.
Time's a changing...Microsoft has contributed a lot to the Personal Computer Space, In fact, I wont be very audacious when I say, it created the Personal Computing Space! . It revolutionized and changed the way we live! Microsoft and it's employees will Miss Bill Gates and his leadership a lot...
-Mithun Dhar
This past weekend I invested time and money on buying a Digital SLR Camera. After a ton of research, I decided to get the Canon Digital Rebel XSi aka EOS 450D.
The camera and the lenses are awesome but I realized that there is so little I can do with it, as I'm completely ignorant with what can be done with it! I've decided to spend some quality time learning all about DSLR photography this year...
But in the meantime, I was looking at the MS Research site and found these Digital Photography tools. These are really good tools and very easy to use. Here are a few of them that are released:
http://www.microsoft.com/prophoto (Here's a DP Review write up, http://www.dpreview.com/news/0701/07012304msphotoinfotool.asp)
Microsoft Pro Photo Tools
Microsoft Pro Photo Shoot
Download codecs
Phase One delivers Capture One 4 next-generation RAW workflow software
HD Photo Plug-ins for Photoshop released
SyncToy v2.0 Beta
My top tools,
SyncToy v2.0 Beta HD Photo Plug-in for Adobe® Photoshop® Software - Windows Windows Imaging Component
Go bonkers!
-Mithun Dhar
You suggested, we acted!
This month's VSTS User Group Meeting will be held at Microsoft's Lincoln Square office on the 15th floor. We'll have a couple ushers to let you in once you get on the 15th floor. Also there's a change in timing - We'll start the meeting at 6:00 PM.
Please REGISTER for more details!
Here's the agenda:
Title: Gaze into the Crystal Ball: Reporting in Team System
Speaker: Steve Borg
Steven Borg is a principal of Northwest Cadence, a Microsoft VSTS Inner Circle partner that focuses exclusively on helping companies improve their Application Lifecycle Management using Team System. At Northwest Cadence, he is the VSTS Practice Lead, and has worked with dozens of corporations to improve their overall software development process, and, more specifically, their automated build process. In addition, he assists the Team System community as a Team System MVP, and is both an accomplished speaker and writer
Overview:
You’ve paid your nickel and it’s time to ask the Zoltar Fortune Teller for your future: “Is my software development project going down the toilet? Will I be able to ship on time, with high quality? Can I hit my budget?” (Wait, three questions = three nickels.) And he says… Nothing.
Let’s face it. Traditional status reporting is about as accurate as Zoltar, and worse, it takes a whole lot longer!!! Team System can help! Its’ built in reporting capabilities provide a strong foundation for understanding the current status of your project. Not only does it provide a series of built in reports, it gathers the metrics to allow for excellent ad-hoc reports! Using these both the built in and ad hoc report capabilities, finding the current status of your project, and predicting your project’s probability of success or failure along several axis. Come learn how to predict your future! You’ll learn how to interpret the build in reports, learn what’s required to create the reports, and how to use Excel pivot tables to connect to the TFS cube for ad hoc reporting
The meeting will also be simulcasted via Live Meeting: Register for more details!
https://www112.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/join?id=NKM42M&role=attend
Meeting ID: NKM42M
Toll-free: +1 (866) 500-6738
Toll: +1 (203) 480-8000
Participant code: 8520141
Come join us for a fun filled evening!
-Mithun Dhar
