If you’re developing applications for Social Networking sites such as MySpace, you’re in for a real good Treat!

MySpace Just announced support for Silverlight on its Open Platform. A SDK will be available on CodePlex on April 2nd that will make writing Silverlight applications really simple for Visual Studio Developers and Expression Blend designers.

And finally, my colleague Michael Scherotter (The brains behind this project!) will be presenting at the Web 2.0 EXPO in San Francisco on 04/02. If you’re there don’t miss this session…

You can read more about this here on Michael’s blog!

-Mithun Dhar

Not only are our computers cheaper but our Software is now FREE! For all high school students.

Yesterday Bill Gates in a significant announcement, offered a new program to help High School Students across the world!

DreamSpark High School Provides Students with Free Software to Pursue Their Academic & Professional Goals

Yesterday at the Government Leaders Forum, in Washington D.C. Bill Gates announced the expansion of the DreamSpark program to include high school students worldwide.  DreamSpark was originally available only to University students.  By offering free access to its latest software, Microsoft is empowering students to pursue their academic and professional goals, and become the next generation of IT and business leaders. All press information, videos and images are available here: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/glfamericas/default.mspx

DreamSpark was originally available only to University students.  By offering free access to its latest software, Microsoft is empowering students across the world to pursue their academic and professional goals, and become the next generation of IT and business leaders. https://www.dreamspark.com/FAQ/HighSchoolAdministratorFaq.aspx

Finally, Here are two Golden FAQs that tell you how simple and elegant this program is!

• Are the students in my school eligible to participate?

This benefit is available to all High School students around the world who are attending accredited educational institutions.

• How can I offer this benefit to the students in my school?

School Administrators will need to register, help verify their school as an accredited institution using a tool in the DreamSpark website, and agree to certain terms and conditions (which will only come into effect when and only when- your High School has completed the verification and registration process).

As an accredited High School, you may already have all the requirements necessary to do this. You will just be asked to fax copies of accreditation certificate along with your name and contact information to Microsoft. Once your High School’s accreditation status is verified, Microsoft will send you a set of Access Keys to distribute to your enrolled students. DreamSpark will then rely on you to distribute the Access Keys to students who are enrolled in your school and request access to DreamSpark.

You can read more FAQ’s HERE!

Here’s to a brighter future for all of us!

-Mithun Dhar

Welcome to the IE8 FireStarter Chat Page. This is a community page for the IE8 FireStarter event that will be simulcasted on the web via Live Meeting on Thursday the 26th of March (tomorrow) between 8:15 AM and 5:30 PM PST.

To view the event on the web, you need to Register for the Live Meeting version. If you can come attend the event in Person, we are hosting this at the Microsoft Redwest E facility in Redmond, WA. Please register to ensure a seat...

With this chat page, I'm trying to bring the 'live event' experience to our virtual audience. You'll be able to chat with the attendees in Redmond, ask questions and interact with the audience and some product team members. We'll also try and have a couple moderators.

You can, have a group chat, or 1-1 chat via this page.

• Register for the In Person Event: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032406308&Culture=en-US
• Register for the Live Meeting version: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032408665&EventCategory=2&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

** Live Meeting Link** (Direct Access to the Meeting online)

https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/mseventsbmo/join?id=1032408665&role=attend&pw=AQNT511

• Event Date: 26th March - 2009 - (tomorrow)
• Event Time: 8:15 AM to 5:00 PM PST (Entire event will be simulcasted on the web)

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a mail at mithund at microsoft dot com.

We look forward to seeing you at the event.

Regards,

-Mithun Dhar

Tomorrow our Microsoft EMEA is having a major event for +1500 ITPros and Developers in Buenos Aires, Argentina. They created a site for the event which resembles the user interface of Windows 1.01: http://www.puertadeenlace.net/run09/

However, a partner from Uruguay (d2b Networks) has developed a Windows 7-like version of the site in Silverlight. They have done a terrific job, check it out here: http://www.puertadeenlace.net/run09/d2b. Some features included:

· Aero peek

· Desktop peek

· Carrousel selection of windows

· Gadget for displaying sponsors

We sure have come a long way! My earliest exposure to Windows was the 3.1 version. I spent a considerable amount of time on that OS….and it’s sure been a joy using every other release (Except Windows Millennium :))

-Mithun Dhar

It’s becoming impossible to keep up with all the updates at MIX09!

Today’s announcement is right in line with our upcoming Internet Explorer 8 FireStarter event! Register ASAP to ensure a seat! You can attend in person (Redmond, WA) OR watch it Live on your computer via Live Meeting.

• Here’s where you can Download and Install the releases IE8 bits from!
• Take a Tour of IE8
• Read Dean’s blog post on all the greatness and glory of IE8
• Watch the Recorded Keynote Presentation @ http://live.visitmix.com/ – Day 2 Keynote (Must Watch!)

Enjoy IE8 in 25 languages!

-Mithun Dhar

I've been using IE8 for a while now and I've been more than happy about it! Download the bits and try it out for yourself!

Here are some other resources that will help you learn more and equip yourself with this upcoming Internet Explorer release.

• Internet Explorer 8 “How Do I” Video Series (28 videos)
• Short “YouTube” style videos around key features/functionality in IE8. Each video covers quick/short overview of the feature (what it does), why you’d use it, how to use it.
• 5 are available today and 3-4 additional videos will be added every week here. RSS feeds can be enabled to keep up to date on the latest new videos.
• Includes relevant code samples and corresponding fact sheets
• Internet Explorer 8 Fact Sheets (28 sheets)
• PDF “one pagers” that explain key features/functionality in IE8. Includes code samples and can be used both online and offline in print.
• Corresponding fact sheet for every How Do I Video. These are also in conjunction with the IE8 Demo Site which is meant to allow full demos of functionality, and an environment where customers can “kick the tires” around key features of IE8. 
• Internet Explorer 8 Virtual Labs
• Total of 7 Virtual Labs for IT Professionals & Developers.
• Includes Application Compatibility, Debugging, and Developer Tool topics.

Of course, you can learn all of these topics and more in the upcoming IE8 FireStarter event. Be sure to register!

Enjoy!

-Mithun Dhar

A Couple weeks ago, I blogged about the Internet Explorer 8 FireStarter event coming up in Redmond. Here are more updates, I have made it a seperate post as there are too many updates to that event and moving forward, I'd like this to be the uber post about the IE8 FireStarter event.

Event Name: Internet Explorer 8 FireStarter (IE8 FireStarter)

Event Date: March 26^th, 2009

Event Time: 8:15 AM – 5:00 PM (Registration starts at 8:00 AM, Lunch provided by Microsoft)

Event Location: Microsoft Redwest Campus

Building: Redwest-E – Room: Emerald Auditorium

5600 148th Avenue N.E.

REDMOND, WA, 98052 - USA

You can attend this event In-Person or Watch it online. Remember, you MUST register to ensure a seat. We have a very limited capacity for the In-Person event, so be sure to book your seat ASAP!

• Register to Attend In-Person: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032406308&Culture=en-US
• Register to Watch the event online: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032408665&Culture=en-US

If you are able to attend the event in Redmond, there are plenty of things to give away for each of the attendees:

- Thrive Voucher/Card – Valid for one Microsoft Certification OR 1 TechNet Subscription

- IE8 Mug

- IE8 Sticky Notes

- Expression Blend Copies (Trial)

- TechNet Edge tee shirt

- TechNet Edge Sticker

- Pen

Also, we will be raffling off:

- (1) Zune

- (20) IE 8 Fleeces

Please note that all the sessions will be recorded and made available post event. On the day of the event, we will host a Chat Site on my blog. This will have a few moderators from Microsoft to help answer any questions you might have. If you have any questions for the speaker post it on the Chat site and we will in turn moderate with the Speaker to get your Q's answered during Q & A. It will also help you to get connected to some of the audience members attending the event In-person. The chat site won't be up until the day of the event. Watch my blog for more information!

If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask me about it! Alternatively, you could reach out to David Tesar (Technical Evangelist) or Giorgio Sardo(Technical Evangelist IE Team) who are helping me put this event!

We are looking forward to seeing you at the event!

Regards,

-Mithun Dhar

Fellowmen, join us tomorrow geekSpeaking with David Starr. I've worked with David in the past and he's very technical and his presentations are very entertaining and insightful. Rest assured, you'll enjoy this session!

Here's where to Register: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032404877&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

Time: Noon (12:00 PM) PST - 1:00 PM.

Event Overview

In this geekSpeak webcast, David Starr introduces us to the new architecture tools in Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. David shows us how to discover and refactor existing architectures and how these new architecture tools are not just for large up-front design projects. Be sure to bring your architecture questions for David. Your hosts for this geekSpeak are Glen Gordon and Mithun Dhar.

The geekSpeak webcast series brings you industry experts in a "talk-radio" format hosted by developer evangelists from Microsoft. These experts share their knowledge and experience about a particular developer technology and are ready to answer your questions in real time during the webcast. To ask a question in advance of the live webcast, or for post-show resources, be sure to visit the geekSpeak blog.

Be sure to tune in!

-Mithun Dhar

Well, it's now in the past! It was 3 days well spent. Here's a small video testimony to all the good times...

MVP "I'm a PC" Video

-Mithun Dhar