Don Kerr just sent this through (he, Nelson Lin and and Dave Glover are presenting):

Get the competitive edge with Windows Embedded in retail

Discover the latest end-to-end solutions for retail at the Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS) Seminar. Explore the latest in-depth product specific information, hear from sector specialists and learn from practical demonstrations. Sessions cater for Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Catch the complimentary seminar in Sydney on 4 December, or Melbourne on 5 December.
>> Get the event details now

I'm in Perth as a result of GITA inviting me to speak at their Seminar and Workshops. I presented on MapPoint Web Services and showed a sneak peek of SQL Server 2008's Spatial capabilities (here's another white paper).

My slides are available here.

The demo app I showed is here. (Don't forget about the bug I first described here, and I've also got a detailed walk-through document showing how to build a simpler app)

If you want a copy of SQL Server 2008 CTP5, you need to go here.

The word's getting out there (a little too slowly for my liking, but anyway ...): SQL Server 2008 will have spatial data support built-in. The first CTP to have this feature enabled should be CTP5 (due out any day now).

In the mean time, Isaac Kunen and Michael Rys have recorded a webcast with some great information.

View it here

Sharmilla sent this through today.

Microsoft proudly presents its first MCT Community Summit 2008 in Sydney, Australia, January 29 – 31st

For the very first time, Australia  will be hosting its very own MCT Community gathering to gain and share knowledge!

This exciting Event is from Jan 29 – 31^st 2008 – REGISTER NOW !!!!

For more information, https://www.local.microsoft.com.au/australia/events/register/home.aspx?levent=993019&linvitation

The 2008 program promises to be filled with new course training on Windows Server 2008, SQL “Katmai” 2008, Office Communications Server, Exchange Server 2007 and many more. The sessions are designed to enhance technical product knowledge, improve training skills and provide an early look at new Microsoft Learning courses and course formats.

NEW technologies covered in the Summit :

· Windows Server 2008: Virtualization, Active Directory, Networking and Security, Terminal Services, Applications platform, as well as trainer preparation sessions on new courseware.

· SQL Server 2008: For database administrators, for database developers, as well as trainer preparation sessions on new courseware.

· Office Communication Server 2007: Architecture and deployment, as well as trainer preparation sessions on new courseware.

· SharePoint Technologies: Developing on SharePoint server and incorporating MOSS SDK into your SharePoint technologies deliveries.

· Exchange Server 2007: Incorporating Service Pack 1 into your Exchange class deliveries.

· Visual Studio 2008: The next version of Visual Studio, Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2008, will provide an industry-leading developer experience for Windows Vista, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and the Web.

Who should attend?

Microsoft Certified Trainers, who work as staff trainers or independents can gain much value from attending an MCT Summit. You should attend if you want to:

· Get in-depth technical knowledge about Microsoft technologies in early stages of product lifecycles.

· Get “Tips and tricks” on delivering newly released Microsoft Learning Products.

· Learn from veteran instructors and experienced speakers.

· Meet, network and share your experiences with trainers from all over the world.

· Meet Microsoft Learning staff responsible for managing courseware development and certification programs.

Event Details :

Date                                  :             January 29 - 31, 2008

Venue                               :             Sydney Marriott Hotel, 36 College Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia

Participation Fee              :             AUD 399 excluding GST. This price is inclusive of 3-days training, materials and lunch.

REGISTER NOW !!!!!!! : https://www.local.microsoft.com.au/australia/events/register/home.aspx?levent=993019&linvitation

This just in from Paul Andrew.

We just completed the .NET Framework 3.5 update to the Commonly Used Types and Namespaces poster.

Here's a link to the file (PDF, XPS and 16-page XPS) if you want to grab it now and be the first on your block to get it on your wall. We'll be using it at a variety of places, if you think it would be a cool thing to have at a Microsoft event then please go suggest it to some Microsoft employee that you know.

Let me point out the little additive circles diagram at the bottom right. We've found that this is a great way to explain the additive version releases of the .NET Framework 2.0 – 3.0 – 3.5. The primary reason for updating the .NET Framework this additive way instead of the side-by-side nature of .NET Framework 1.1 – 2.0 is to make it easier for customers to upgrade their apps. Here's that diagram again.

Craig Bailey has a well considered and thought-provoking piece entitled COMMUNITY: Are events worth the cost?, but which he later told me he meant to call COMMUNITY: Are free events worth the cost?

I'll leave you to read Craig's answer on his blog, but it's a very reasonable question. Craig mainly asks the question from the point of view of the attendee, but it's just as valid (perhaps even more so) to ask it from the organiser's point of view.

On the negative side of the ledger, it's a lot of work. Just ask Greg or Mitch or Rocky or Graham or any of the 30-odd User Group leads around the country. You're going to be able to make more money, or spend more time with the kids or whatever if you don't do it.

On the positive side, you're doing three things:

1. You're providing a service. This means that people in the community look up to you as the person who runs/ran <insert event or user group here>. Your name will be associated with the event or group and you'll most likely get referrals based on that recognition
2. You're building a community. As someone who has benefited a great deal from various tech communities over my career, I can personally vouch for the value of community. Apart from anything else, having an expanded user base will at least assist in future-proofing your career.
3. You're Learning. As the organiser of an event or group, it's your call as to who presents and on what. If there's a particular topic you'd like to see more of, organise for an expert to come and present and there you go.

As I think I've said before, It's all about community.

A couple of great XNA Games Studio Express events this week in the MS offices in Sydney and Melbourne, presented by Pete Isensee, director of the Microsoft XNA Developer Connection (XDC).

Who should attend?

• XNA (Game Studio Express) users
• Game development/design enthusiasts/students
• Professional game developers
• Media

Sydney Event

http://xnasydneypeteisensee.events.live.com/default.aspx

Date: Nov 14^th 2007 @ 6:30PM

Location: Microsoft Sydney Office

Melbourne Event

http://xnamelbournepeteisensee.events.live.com/default.aspx

Date: Nov 16^th 2007 @ 6:30PM

Location: Microsoft Melbourne Office

I was chatting with Ken Levy a couple of weeks ago about what he's up to now (he works for the Visual Studio Extensibility Team) and he pointed me at a great resource that he's put together with the guys from CoDe Focus Magazine.

VSX CoDe Focus magazine is now online at http://code-magazine.com/focus/vsx. Microsoft sponsored this special edition of CoDe Magazine on the topic of VSX. The entire 76 page magazine is available online in multi-page HTML format and also as a PDF download (13MB). Printed copies of the magazine will be available in late October at various developer events and mailed to many existing CoDe magazine subscribers.

I got a nice note from Joe Hanna of vantage IT today following my presentation at the Office DevCon last weekend.

In case you were interested, I thought I might let you know the results of attempting to build a .NET User Control and consuming it in a VBA project.  Following your advice, I downloaded the Interop Forms Toolkit 2.0a and hey presto...

Thanks mate!

Regards,

Joe

As I've discussed before, The Interop Toolkit is a great resource for developers with a foot in both the Win32 and .NET camps.

Great workshops in the MS offices next week

Topic: Virtual Earth - Real Revenue

Where: Microsoft Offices

When:  Brisbane 12^th November, Melbourne 13^th November, Sydney 14^th November

Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Registration: Register for the Virtual Earth briefing by sending an e-mail to info@mapds.com.au

Agenda

What’s in it for you

• Where and what is the market?
• Incentive
• Pricing and Licensing

What have others done

• Live sites

What’s new in Version 6

· Multipoint routing

· Enhanced Geocoding

· Safari 2.1 support for 2D only

· Customer Identification via Client Tokens

· Transaction Reporting (beta)

· MapCruncher (Beta)

· Infrastructure Improvements

· Bulk addition of VEShape

· Z-Index support for VEShapes

· New v6 iSDK - http://dev.live.com/virtualearth/sdk/

· Optional access via SSL

· Better POI accuracy when rotating Birds-eye images

· 3D altitude display

· Import 2D and 3D KML objects into VE

· Choice of VE or MapPoint web services routing (for different languages, not avoidance [yet] )

· Bulk load utility for custom points

· A geocoding result code

Presented by Microsoft and our VE partner, Map Data Sciences