June 15th-19th 2009
New Horizons, Strand House 22-24 Strand Street Great Dublin
This is a set of half day and full day workshops where participants will have the opportunity to test their application for compatibility with the most recent publicly available version of Windows 7. You will also receive valuable guidance on how to address compatibility issues discovered during testing. This is a great opportunity to test your applications on Windows 7, but there is limited availability so be sure to get on board early to get your preferred time slot.
Who should participate in a Windows 7 Remediation Workshop?
Software vendors may send 1-2 individuals to participate in the half day workshop (for Vista compatible apps) or full day workshop (for XP compatible apps). These individuals should be intimately familiar with the design of the application being tested and should be prepared to work with the workshop staff to execute the technical aspects of the testing process.
Software developers, database administrators and testers are all good candidates to represent your company at the workshop.
Please note:
· You will need to bring your application(s) to be loaded on our secure Windows test platform in a private developer lab environment for testing and debugging application issues.
· Prior to participating in the workshop, it would be advisable to go through the Windows 7 Application Compatibility Cookbook
A dedicated consultant will be on hand to support participants in investigating application compatibility, and give architectural guidance.
Please contact me directly for more details and to reserve a slot.
This instructor led training course will show developers how to build the next generation of software applications which deliver the richer application experiences and positive product discriminators that users now expect.
The course will consist of approximately 50% instructor presentation (PowerPoint slides and instructor-led demonstration) and 50% hands on lab activities, which will provide students the opportunity to gain solid hands-on experience with the compelling features of Windows7.
The event covers both native and managed code (C++-using-COM and C#) and focuses on the features new to Windows7.
The agenda is inline below: for more information and details of how to register, please contact me.
Course Objectives
After completing this course, students will be able to:
· Describe the design intent and key features of Windows7.
· Customize the new Windows7 taskbar to the individual application requirements
· Describe the Multi-Touch and Ink support
· Customize the Libraries and Federated Search capabilities
· Describe the common interfaces for Sensors and Location
· Develop the Windows Scenic Ribbon for their application
· Use the Application Compatibility features
· Design an application to be compatible User Account Control
· Describe the Xml Paper Specification and support offered in Windows7
· Create start-on-demand Windows Services to reduce start-up times
· Create Energy-Efficient applications that conserve power.
· Use the Application Instrumentation, Diagnostic and Performance Tools
Audience
The primary audience is experienced early-adopter Developers who wish to use some or all of the Windows7 features in applications.
Product and Technology Experience:
Experience of Visual Studio and either C# or C++/COM
Course Outline
Day 1 – Windows7 : Visible Features
· Windows7 Overview
· The new Windows7 Taskbar
· Multi-Touch and Ink
· Libraries and Federated Search
· Sensors and Location
· The Windows Scenic Ribbon
Day 2 – Windows7 : Supporting Features
· Graphics Improvements
· Application Compatibility Overview
· User Account Control Overview
· XPS
· Background Services and Tasks
· Energy Efficient Applications
· Application Instrumentation, Diagnostic and Performance Tools
Windows 7 is coming and excitement is building among consumers and enterprises. Therefore, as an ISV it is critical that your solution is compatible with Windows 7 - now is the right time to ensure you are ready for the Windows 7 wave. If you have a solution on either the Windows Vista or Windows XP operating system, Innovate On has resources which will help you to ensure your solution lights up on Windows 7. With an application quality cookbook, forums, and Windows compatibility tests you can achieve compatibility easily and also explore how to make your solution shine with the new features Windows 7 provides.
Get compatible by checking out the resources on Innovate On, and if you’re interested in becoming eligible to display the Windows 7 Software Logo on your solution please feel free to contact me for more details. The good news is it’s become a lot easier! We will also be running some (free) classroom training on Windows 7 development in June 2009, along with a remediation workshop to work through any issues you may run into – again, feel free to contact me for more details.
Check out http://www.windowspartnerreadinessday.com/index.html and the ISV track at http://www.windowspartnerreadinessday.com/isvihv.html for a chance to learn about Windows 7 – all sessions will be recorded for viewing after the event as well….
Time
Topic
Speaker
8:00-9:00am
Keynote
Brad Brooks & Rich Reynolds
9:00-9:45am
Windows 7 Compatibility and Tools
Mark Rogers
9:45-10:30am
Meet the Windows 7 Logo Program
Jeff Price
10:30-11:15am
New Possibilities With Software
Aseem Datar
11:15am-12:00pm
New Possibilities With Hardware - Includes DS, Touch, Playto, Rally
Gary Schare
Speaker: Mark Rogers
Learn about the programs and tools to test your applications and device drivers to verify compatibility and ensure that your customers have a great experience with Windows 7
Speaker: Jeff Price
Get the inside scoop on the vision and plan for the Windows 7 Logo program. Learn about why customers care about it and what it means to you.
New Possibilities with Software
Speaker: Aseem Datar
Unlock new value with a collection of new features (Touch, New taskbar, and new extensible Ribbon) introduced in Windows 7 that improve how users discover and interact with applications.
New Possibilities with Hardware - Includes DS, Touch, Playto, Rally
Speaker: Gary Schare
Just a quick post for those of you who are developing either internet or intranet applications, to highlight how Windows 7 federated search can easily allow users to search your web property from within Windows Explorer on Windows 7.
Here’s how it works using Live Search with the MSDN Ireland blog:
Download the federated search connector file (MSDNIreland.osdx) attached to this post, double click then you’ll end up with:
Select it then enter a search term. If you have the preview pane turned on you end up with the content in your explorer window.
The .osdx file is pretty straightforward : all that’s needed is a URL on the given site that can return results in RSS or ATOM format. For those of you using WCF to create services, creating an RSS/ATOM feed should be pretty easy.
There are plenty of examples of search connectors out there, for example here’s one for Flickr.
Those BizSpark startups out there who are building hosted services might find this a quick and easy way to bring their web presence to the desktop.
This is a 1 day training course on Azure for developers, details of the agenda and venue are inline below.
For more details and to get registered, please contact me.
Registration
Azure Services Platform Overview
Break
Introduction to Windows Azure
Lunch
Introduction to SQL Services
Introduction to .NET Services
Introduction to Live Services
Location:
The Auditorium,
Microsoft Building 3,
Carmanhall Road,
Sandyford Industrial Estate,
Dublin 18.
Training date: May 28th
Time: 9-5
Language: English
I’m still trying to get through a few more videos from MIX09 (videos are posted here: http://videos.visitmix.com/). But while I work through those to find the best nuggets and most useful information for you, I was wondering if you could help me out with something.
We’re putting together a “Best of the Best of MIX09” event, and I’m wondering what format people would like best for something like this. I’ve tried a few different things. Breakfast briefings are too short and just end up being throwing around the new buzzwords. Also, I almost broke my nose opening a champagne bottle at the last one. Smaller evening events with just a few highlights from the various sessions have been good but don’t let people ask questions.
So I am looking for input. Would you please take a second and select what you’d prefer? Also if there are any specific topics you’re interested in covering, let me know by e-mailing me at martharo[at]microsoft.com.
Thanks for your help.
The alpha toolkit for the Windows 7 Software Logo Program is now available. The toolkit provides you with a quick and agile, automated, light weight command-line tool to verify their application’s compliance against the technical requirements.
The toolkit is being made available and supported through the Windows 7 Software Logo Connect site. Anyone can access the connect site, but to download the alpha toolkit or leave feedback, you need to have an invitation code. Sign up to receive updates to get the code.
More information about the alpha toolkit is available at the Microsoft Connect site for the software logo program. Be sure to read the readme file, release notes, the PowerPoint overview with step by step guidance on how to use the toolkit.
If you’re an ISV based in Ireland/Northern Ireland and want to find out more about Windows 7 application compatibility please contact me.
I know I’m not the only one who is busy lately. Events are popping up all over the place, so I thought I’d take a second and throw some out there in case you’re not aware of them.
Dublin ALT.NET Meetup: Thursday, April 16th starting at 7:00pm at The Duke off Grafton Street in Dublin city centre
Dublin ALT.NET meets monthly to discuss issues that interest us in a loose, informal discussion-style environment. All software developers of every stripe are hereby extended an invitation to participate in the discussion or just come and see what all this ALT.NET stuff is about. This meeting will be covering Domain Driven Design (DDD).
Register for Dublin ALT.NET Meetup here: http://dublinalt.net/2009/04/06/important-change-of-date-for-april-meetup-16th-of-april/
OpenCoffee Club Dublin: Saturday, April 18th starting at 10:30am at Dakota on South William Street in Dublin city centre
OpenCoffee Club Dublin has updated its locations. The regular monthly Saturday meetings are now moved to Dakota on South William Street. OpenCoffee is an informal event for web / tech / business people to get together and chat about anything and everything
Register for OpenCoffee Dublin here: http://www.opencoffeedublin.com/next-opencoffee-club-saturday-18th-april-2009-new-location/
Dublin Girl Geek Dinner: Tuesday, April 21st at 7:30pm in herbstreet restaurant on Hanover Quay in the Dublin Docklands
Ireland Girl Geek Dinners is delighted to welcome guest speaker Amanda Scott of changeatwork.ie. Amanda is a career development coach, as well as a fantastic speaker and will be joining Dublin Girl Geeks to chat about her experiences and women in technology. The title of her talk is “Career Success, in Girl Terms.”
Register for the Dublin Girl Geek Dinner here: Dublin girl geek dinner open for registration
Connector Meetup: Thursday, April 23rd starting at 7pm at 4 Dame Lane in Dublin city centre
Connector is made up of a a multi-national mix of bloggers, twitterers, marketers, designers, web entrepreneurs, photographers, musicians, digital filmmakters, PR people and some Thursday night party people. The theme for this meetup is “Starting a Digital Business” and it features a panel of industry experts including a talk by Damian Ryan.
Register for Connector here: http://www.connector.ie/2009/04/02/connector-no9/
BarCamp Belfast: Saturday, April 25th all day at the University of Ulster, Belfast
BarCamp Belfast is a user-generated unconference for designers, developers, startups and geeks to share and learn in an open environment. There are tons of folks signed up for BarCamp Belfast and lots of great talks lined up already including “Teens and T’Internet”, “The Semi-permeable Newsroom”, “Niche Social Networks” and even “Coffee Brewing 101.” There is certain to be something for everyone.
Register for BarCamp Belfast here: http://barcampbelfast.com/
Cork MTUG: Encryption using SQLCLR (Using the .NET framework inside the SQL Server engine): Monday, April 27th at 7:00pm in the Hillcrest Suite of the Imperial Hotel in Cork
This talk provides a hands-on introduction to developers on how to get started writing plug-ins for SQL Server 2005/2008. A basic primer on SQLCLR is provided. Then a simple SHA-256 hash example is developed using Visual Studio. Finally I provide a case study of a real life cryptography solution for the Point of Sales industry. Familiarity with the .NET base class libraries and Private Key cryptography concepts would be helpful for the presentation but is not absolutely required.
Register for Cork MTUG talk here: Encryption using SQLCLR (Using the .NET framework inside the SQL Server engine
Irish Internet Association (IIA) National Congress: Thursday May 21st & Friday May 22nd all day at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Northwood
The theme of Congress 2009 is "Better Business Online in a Tough Economy: Money, Marketing, Monitoring & Mobile". Facing the new reality, we look at the unique advantage that the Internet can deliver for businesses across Ireland, north and south. It is clearly a cost effective medium and we will show you how you can leverage it for your maximum advantage in these testing times. Speakers include Facebook - speaking at the largest Internet industry event in Ireland to date - Google, dotMobi and Realex Payments.
Register for the IIA National Congress here: https://secure.iia.ie/events/book-step-1/194/iia-national-congress-and-net-visionary-awards-2009/
DBIC/GEC are one of our recent Network Partners in Ireland and have arranged a Breakfast Briefing on April 29th.
Full details are in the document attached to this post - come along to hear details of a plan to facilitate a cluster of BizSpark startups in the GEC.
Any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Virtual Earth offer for BizSpark startups
Microsoft Virtual Earth, the integrated GIS mapping, imaging, search, and data visualization web service platform, has now been added to the Bizspark program. As a BizSpark member, you can now get a Microsoft Virtual Earth account for commercial production for just $2,000 per year (a 50% discount on the regular Virtual Earth entry-level price).
BizSpark Startups Can Now Join Metro: Get Pre-release Support and Training! Metro, Microsoft’s early adoption program that provides access to training and a broad range of pre-release support for projects based on Microsoft’s newest technologies, is now available for BizSpark startups. Get free support and resources on Windows 7, Azure, .NET 4.0, Visual Studio 2010, Office 14 and more! Join Metro by logging into your account from the BizSpark Welcome Page on the BizSpark Portal— look for the Metro banner on the bottom of the page.
DBIC/Guinness Enterprise Center BizSpark Cluster GEC provides a positive entrepreneurial environment for start up companies and early stage developing enterprises. GEC plan to designate an open plan office suite to facilitate the development of a Microsoft® BizSpark™ start up cluster of enterprises.
The overall objective of this cluster is to accelerate the success of early stage software start up companies in Dublin.
Bizspark participants will join the GEC / DBIC community of over 100 entrepreneurs who have started their companies with GEC / DBIC business mentoring, guidance and resources, and who are equally driven by innovation and technology. For more information attend the breakfast briefing in April (see the events section) or contact me.
17th Hothouse Venture Programme
The Hothouse Venture Programme is a year-long comprehensive support and incubation programme for entrepreneurs with technology-based business ideas. There are sixteen places available on each Programme. Participants must have left full-time employment and be working full-time on developing their new business. Read more.
Invent DCU launches Business-Start-Programme
April 24th 2009
Location: Invent DCU
The Business-Start-Programme is a six week part-time programme offering people with a business idea the chance to investigate its potential.
The programme is designed to fit around people who work and weekly sessions are held on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. The programme takes participants through the planning elements necessary for start-up business.
If you are interested in taking part in the programme or would like further information please contact me.
Microsoft Ireland in conjunction with the Digital Media Forum hosted an Innovation Accelerator event on Feb 24th where over 200 startups attended to hear some of Ireland’s most successful entrepreneurs including Iona Founder, Chris Horn Havok founder, Dr Steve Collins share their experiences. In addition to hearing about past success stories attendees were also given extensive practical advice from a range of experts who hosted workshops in key areas such as business planning, sales, marketing, financial and legal services. Read More. Thanks to Peter Griffin, of PowerManual, a local BizSpark startup, for producing this manual of the slides using PowerManual V2! We’re still working on making videos of the sessions available.
Get Hard to Find Windows® 7 Beta As a BizSpark startup, you get access to the Windows 7 Beta from your MSDN subscription — downloaded from MSDN. Use the beta to test the compatibility of your application. If you’re having application compatibility problems, get all the technical resources and guidance you need from the Metro Portal — see Metro story for details on joining. Promote Your Company on BizSpark DB. Want to promote your startup to potential investors, clients, employees, and partners? Go to the “Add Your Startup” tab on the BizSparkDB at microsoftstartupzone.com, fill out a short profile and we’ll do the rest. It’s so easy. Each week, we select a new startup to showcase.
Our local Network Partners
Network Partners are a crucial part of BizSpark and our local community is shaping up nicely. You can find latest details of NPs in Ireland/Northern Ireland here and they are also mapped on Virtual Earth. Suggestions for new Network Partners are always welcome! Note that many of our Network Partners are hosting events over the coming months which you may find useful – see the Events section below for more details.
Events: Join Us
Microsoft European Investor Summit
Prague – 12/13 May 2009
We are now accepting registrations for our event in CZ in May for investors and start-ups. This is an opportunity for start-ups who are seeking funding to pitch to 80+ investors from across Europe. If you are interested in pitching please contact me and we will nominate you. (Accommodation will be paid for pitching companies).
BizSpark Breakfast Briefing - DBIC April 27th 2009 8.30am-10.30am Guinness Enterprise Centre
Further details will be posted here as they become available.
Platform Briefing, presented by Spanish Point Technologies Ltd
April, 2009 Live Meeting Attend this Live Meeting from your desk to get an overview of the current Microsoft application platform. The aim is to "get you current" with the platform and its latest features, from .NET 3.5 to MOSS 2007. Contact me if you are interested in attending.
Networking Event ‘Knowledge Economy Research: Supports for 3rd Level & Companies to facilitate commercialisation and collaboration’
April 2nd 2009 1.30 pm -5.00 pm, Thomond Park, Limerick.
For start up entrepreneurs and established businesses to focus on the supports available in Ireland for research commercialisation, industry/3rd level collaboration and technology transfer. See http://www.eac.ie/SNSevent.htm for full agenda, speakers and how to book your place.
Better Business Online in a Tough Economy: Money, Marketing, Monitoring & Mobile
The IIA Annual Congress 2009 will be held on Thursday 21 May and Friday 22 May in the Crowne Plaza Dublin Northwood. The Net Visionary Awards 2009 will also be held on the first night of Congress, 21 May. Read More.
“The Juice” Breakfast Briefing
Tuesday April 21st, 8.30 – 10.00, Synergy Centre, ITT Dublin
Brian Hurley, Director of Outsourcing Services at HP will advise high technology start-ups on how to win outsourced business. Places are free see www.synergycentre.ie for more details.
Get Motivated and Get Marketing! April 29th 2009 10.00am-1pm, The Digital Exchange Building, Crane St, Dublin 8.
Attention start-ups! This free event will give attendees the chance to learn more about marketing their company. Speakers on the day will give tips on marketing on a budget, email campaigns and online marketing methods, such as Facebook and Twitter. Please click to find out more and to register for this event. http://www.ingage.ie/merrionbd/invitation/invitation.html
Creating Relevant & Profitable Online Services.
16 Apr 2009
The IIA and Front present a half day course on how to design online services and businesses that succeed! Read More.
Meetball: Demonstration & Networking Breakfast.
22 May 2009
The IIA presents the first in a new series of Demonstration and Networking events entitled Meetball. Read More.