David Fries' WebLog

So, it's been a long time since I've blogged, and I figured it's time for an update. First of all, I no longer work on the CLR team. It was a great year and a half, but an opportunity came up that I just couldn't resist. I have transitioned to the...

Here's an interview with Yoshihiro Maruyama and Mike Fischer, some of the big wigs for the XBox in Japan, about what efforts they are doing to make the XBox 360 more competetive in Japan. Having been in many a game store in Japan, and seeing the lack...

This is probably the most exciting bit of news I've heard about XBox 2 yet. While I love Halo as much as the next guy, I sometimes prefer to play a nice epic RPG like Final Fantasy. In fact, the sole reason that I own a PS2 is because of Final Fantasy...

Here's Reid Wilkes' post about his article in MSDN magazine on NGEN in Whidbey: http://blogs.msdn.com/reidlw/archive/2005/02/19/376800.aspx ...and here's the article itself: http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/05/04/NGen/default.aspx This is an EXCELLENT...

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/jan05/01-20XboxLive04BenchmarkPR.asp Some other interesting stats from the press release: There are now more than 200 Xbox Live -enabled titles, making it the richest library of online console games available...

Over the holidays, I went back home to visit my family. My little sister has an XBox, Halo 2, and DSL, as well as a free trial to XBox Live that came with Halo 2. However, the XBox is located in a part of the house that doesn't have any phone jacks nearby...

Here's an graphical look at XBox Live traffic after Halo 2 launched. Source: http://www.sandvine.co.uk/solutions/pdfs/Gaming_trend_analysis_haloII_traffic.pdf Not like this is something we didn't know was going to happen, but interesting nonetheless....

I just saw this in the Seattle PI today. "Microsoft Notebook: Tool connects 'Halo 2' with ... Excel?" Using the RSS feed that http://www.bungie.net provides, Microsoft Excel Program Manager Sam Radakovitz was able to create a better way to check out your...

My favorite quote: "Your testers must be amazing developers." http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=30187

For the week of 11/8 - 11/14, Master Chief worked his way into 37,507 Japanese homes, placing Halo 2 in 3rd place on the all console charts. Not bad, considering that the XBox console market share is....shall we say, a bit small. English: http://www.m...

Have you ever sent out an email saying: "Hey, check out the new Britney Spears video <hypothetical link/>! It's HOT HOT HOT!" Only instead of sending the mail to your buddy Alan, you sent it to the "All Employees" alias? Then you frantically send...

With all the excitement surrounding Halo 2's release, it seems that the new features added to Bungie.net's website have been overlooked. A co-worker told me about it, and I am now in awe. Once you finish a game over XBox live, all your stats are uploaded...

Sure, electing the leader of the free world may seem important, but I think this is the day that the "Youth Vote" has been waiting for. (Good idea having the election BEFORE Halo 2's launch date, rather than ON launch day!) Yes, my friends, it's time...

I'm trying out the new MSN blogging service at http://spaces.msn.com . It's only in Japanese, though you can look at the spatterings of English in there and wonder what exactly I'm talking about. (Those of you that do speak Japanese, feel free to correct...

Hey, my buddy Joe wrote Security Innovations' Security Report this month. It has all sorts of information about vulnerability scanners, how hackers use them, and how you can help keep your network secured. Could be useful for those of you with a home...

Due to the overwhelming number of requests (3+) for screenshots and code for the Status Report described in a previous post , I've decided to make them publicly available. My only request is that you let me know how I can improve the form. Here is the...

When I transitioned from the InfoPath team to the CLR team, I wanted to take some of my knowledge of InfoPath and put it to good use here. After browsing the intranet sites, I noticed that there had been several different attempts at designing a status...

Sushi Condiment Wasabi Doesn't Clear Noses: http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/94/102703.htm However, it apparently prevents tooth decay: http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/36/1728_66834.htm I'm ready for my wasabi-flavored Listerene...

I just found this on the web today: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1645550,00.asp Apparently .NET did pretty well against WebSphere. Disclaimer : Now, I'm as skeptical as the next guy when it comes to studies, but and I have virtually no knowlege...

I'm currently studying for the Japanese Langauge Proficiency Test, Level 1.. There are 4 levels, 1 being the most difficult. The test is only offered once a year (in December), and this year I'll be able to take the test in Seattle. Here's a brief overview...

Another interesting thing I've discovered about Japan is the rigidity of their set menus. One day while I was in Japan, I go into McDonald's with my parents, and ask what everyone wants so that I can order for them. My mom tells me that she wants a Teriyaki...

So, I'm waiting on the platform in Nagoya for my shinkansen (bullet train) to arrive. The reserved cars were all sold out, so I had to take my chances with the non-reserved cars, since I'm a bit short on time. The thing about riding in the non-reserved...

So, just got back from my 4 week vacation to Japan, so I'll probably have a few more Japan themed posts coming up. Here's something I noticed when I first went over there, and it struck me as odd again this time around. Everyone does back-in parking ...

Get it here...before it gets you!!! http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=351F0616-93AA-4FE8-9238-D702F1BFBAB4&displaylang=en

I'm off to Japan next monday for 4 weeks, so I most likely won't be blogging much, if at all. I'm sorry to both of my readers for the inconvenience. :)