GerryO's Blog

Training and Content Development

Gerry O'Brien — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 21:47:31 GMT

I’ve been thinking about this for some time now and decided it was time focus some more effort in this direction. I authored a course on Windows 7 a couple of years back now, and it is doing rather well in the Community Course arena for Microsoft...(read more)

Microsoft Certification Information Blog has Moved

Gerry O'Brien — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:53:35 GMT

My last post indicated that I was moving on from a Product Planning role on the developer and SQL Server certifications. I apologize if I left any of you hanging in terms of where to go next. To get the latest information on Microsoft Certifications...(read more)

Moving On

Gerry O'Brien — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 22:01:32 GMT

So, after ~ two years as the Certification Product Planner, in typical Microsoft fashion, it’s time to look at my next career move. I have enjoyed planning the developer and SQL focused certification plans over the past couple of years but I am...(read more)

Windows Azure Beta Exam Announcement

Gerry O'Brien — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 21:50:00 GMT

Register for Beta Exam 71-583, Pro: Designing and Developing Windows Azure Applications You are invited to take beta exam 71-583, Pro: Designing and Developing Windows Azure Applications. If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be...(read more)

Silverlight Beta Exam Announcement

Gerry O'Brien — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 21:44:56 GMT

Register for Beta Exam 71-506, TS: Silverlight 4, Development You are invited to take beta exam 71-506, TS: Silverlight 4, Development. If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam...(read more)

Developer Cert Update

Gerry O'Brien — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:34:00 GMT

I’m a slacker, I know. However, I have been a little busy getting ready for our next fiscal year of exams. So that’s my excuse. Monday, July 12th is the day for the live release of our new Microsoft SharePoint 2010 exams. All four will...(read more)

Are Your Apps Compatible with Office 2010?

Gerry O'Brien — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:02:47 GMT

Application Compatibility for Office 2010 Analyze your environment for installed add-ins and identify potential migration issues as you migrate earlier versions of Office to Office 2010. Learn how the Compatibility Inspector tools can perform an analysis...(read more)

SharePoint 2010 Best Practices

Gerry O'Brien — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 18:59:20 GMT

Learn SharePoint 2010 Best Practices Explore design considerations you should have as you start creating SharePoint solutions targeting SharePoint 2010. Additional videos, labs and code available on testing, deployment and security in this new training...(read more)

Explore SQL Server 2008 R2 breakthrough capabilities on Channel 9

Gerry O'Brien — Wed, 05 May 2010 16:01:33 GMT

See how StreamInsight provides real-time monitoring and analytics on incoming event data that would otherwise not be possible. Find out how PowerPivot for Excel 2010 and SharePoint 2010 enables information workers to analyze huge amounts of data from...(read more)

Why the SQL Server 2008 Certifications Don’t Cover R2

Gerry O'Brien — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:20:11 GMT

SQL Server 2008 R2 has just released and some of you are asking if the current exams will be updated to reflect the changes from SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2008 R2. The short answer is no, we will not update the exams to reflect the deltas between...(read more)

Certification Exams, NDAs, and Responsible Behavior

Gerry O'Brien — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:39:56 GMT

Based on some recent events, I find it necessary to post this as a notification to all those who take certification exams. This applies to certifications across different vendors, not just Microsoft. During the opening screens of the exam, before...(read more)

Free Silverlight Training on Channel 9

Gerry O'Brien — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:50:01 GMT

Channel 9 is offering a free Silverlight 4 Training Kit. The training kit includes a whitepaper explaining all of the new Silverlight 4 features, several hands-on-labs that explain the features, and a 8 unit course for building business applications with...(read more)

More VS 2010 Beta Seats Available

Gerry O'Brien — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:52:03 GMT

OK, you asked for it. We responded. The absolute best that I can do is to open up 150 more seats for each exam. Same beta codes. Register now as this will be the only increase that will be authorized. By the way, thanks for this awesome response...(read more)

Free Windows Phone 7 Series Developer Training Kit

Gerry O'Brien — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:18:50 GMT

Windows Phone 7 Series holds a promise to be an amazing personal mobile phone with new innovative user interface and functionality , as well as a great development platform on which you can quickly and easily build games and applications. With a myriad...(read more)

Register for Visual Studio 2010 Beta Exams

Gerry O'Brien — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:50:00 GMT

You are invited to take part in one or more beta exams for Visual Studio 2010 and the Microsoft .NET Framework 4. If you pass one of the beta exams, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam in its released...(read more)

Free Developer Training on Silverlight!

Gerry O'Brien — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:00:41 GMT

Watch MIX10 Sessions Online!

Gerry O'Brien — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:08:13 GMT

You Couldn’t Make It to MIX10 - but You Can Watch Online While it isn’t the same as attending MIX10, we’ve made it possible for you to watch the keynotes and sessions (posted within 24 hours after they happen) and interact with the MIX Online community...(read more)

Windows Phone 7 at MIX10

Gerry O'Brien — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:51:19 GMT

You’re hearing all about Windows Phone 7 Series—now learn all about it at MIX10. Everything you could ever want to know about Windows Phone 7 Series is at MIX10. You’ll preview the new development platform, show you how to work with the Windows Phone...(read more)

Free Certification Exams

Gerry O'Brien — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:24:00 GMT

<warning> This is a long post </warning> Want to see if you’re ready to develop for the Azure platform? Do you have what it takes to create Web apps using ASP.NET, JavaScript, AJAX and Silverlight? What about desktop apps using WPF? Perhaps...(read more)

Learn About Development for the Next Generation of Windows Phone

Gerry O'Brien — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:08:15 GMT

Just when you didn’t think it could get any better, we took it to the next level. At MIX10, learn about developing applications and games for the next generation of Windows phone. We were serious when we said you’d be learning the “future” of development...(read more)

Passionate About the Web?

Gerry O'Brien — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:32:00 GMT

Join us for MIX10, a 3 day event full of inspiration, content, and networking. MIX10 is a 72 hour conversation to learn about Microsoft's web platform and tools such as Windows Mobile, Silverlight, Expression, and ASP.NET. Register by January 15th and...(read more)

Windows Mobile 6.5, Configuring Beta Exam Invite

Gerry O'Brien — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:42:18 GMT

Register for Beta Exam 71-579, TS: Windows Mobile® 6.5, Configuring You are invited to take beta exam 71-579, TS: Windows Mobile® 6.5, Configuring. If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take...(read more)

Windows Mobile 6.5 Developer Beta Exam Invite

Gerry O'Brien — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:38:00 GMT

Register for Beta Exam 71-580, TS: Windows Mobile® 6.5, Application Development You are invited to take beta exam 71-580, TS: Windows Mobile® 6.5, Application Development. If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript...(read more)

More Developer Training from Channel 9

Gerry O'Brien — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:35:44 GMT

Sitting here at PDC this week and watching the loooooonnnng line for the Azure hands-on labs. Wow! Not at PDC, or perhaps you are but you don’t think the camera or mouse is worth the wait? Try out the new training from Channel 9 online...(read more)

New Training on Channel 9

Gerry O'Brien — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:11:20 GMT

Are you trying to find more information to help you prepare for certifications? Perhaps you would like to go a little deeper on some of the technologies. Channel 9 has always been a great go-to place for developers looking for the latest information...(read more)