It’s here! After a long wait, it’s all come to fruition!

A stellar speaker line-up, good sessions and a house full of smart audience. We’ll rock this event! Here are some details:

• Live Event Telecast: www.msdnevents.com/firestarter/online

• Questions: We’ll be taking questions via twitter – Here’s the twitter tag,
  • #slfs
• If your question doesn’t get answered, please send them to mithund@microsoft.com
• All content will be made available within a week from today. Follow updates on my blog.

Agenda:

If there’s anything else, feel free to contact me.

See you at the event tomorrow!

-Mithun Dhar

As promised, we will be making the slides available to you 30 minutes prior to the event! Here’s a sample:

Mithun’s Kick Off:

Scott Guthrie’s Keynote:

Top Features and Scenarios – Tim Heuer

Expression Blend - Adam Kinney

Sketch Flow – Janete Perez - http://blog.sunnypixels.com

XAML Power Toys v5 – Karl Shifflett! (Wins shortest presentation award!)

Toolkit and Controls – Marco Matos

All the decks will appear on my blog at this post.

Got Feedback? Email me…

-Mithun Dhar

Wherever you are in the world, you are not too far away from our new Windows7 Launch Event! Aptly titled, The New Efficiency launch event we are going to talk about how our software makes you more efficient! In fact, most of the speaking will be done by our customers:

Some expected highlights:

1. Global CIO of FORD discussing their deployment of Exchange 2010 and also Windows 7 as part of their Digital program initiative along with application virtualization with App-V 

2. Managing Director of Continental – discussing cost savings, productivity and innovation – achieved through Windows 7 and also Server virtualization (Hyper V)

3. CVP of Brand Sheraton – discussing business innovation with Windows 7 to drive up brand equity and loyalty

4. CIO, Intel – as a customer discussing strong internal Windows 7 uptake and tangible cost savings, productivity savings

But of course, you will have the pleasure of listening to Mr. Ballmer. Either live from San Francisco or from a PC near you! Register now to ensure a seat and to learn why Windows7 is the greatest software Microsoft ever built!

More details here: http://www.microsoft.com/business/thenewefficiency/keynote/en/us/

-Mithun Dhar

If you are a Web developer you have multiple reasons to celebrate today!

Microsoft today announced the RTM of Web PI (Platform Installer), Web App Gallery and a brand new offering called WebsiteSpark. I strongly encourage you to check out these awesome, game changing technologies/programs.

In a nutshell, WebsiteSpark is a new global program, designed by Microsoft to help small professional Web development and design service companies succeed by providing new business opportunities through connections with global partners and customers, support and training, and software tools – at no upfront cost. For more details you can go to http://www.microsoft.com/web/websitespark

Check out this video by our VP – Scott Guthrie and it’ll all be clear to you in less than 20 mins :) http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Charles/Scott-Guthrie-Introducing-WebSiteSpark-and-Web-Platform-Installer-Web-App-Gallery-RTM/

-Mithun Dhar

Thanks to our wonderful ISV Architect evangelist this wonderful event is unfolding for your benefit in Redmond, WA. Don’t miss this opportunity, here are the details:

(Please note that if the event is overbooked, contact me and I’ll get you in. I have 5 seats blocked for community quota.)

Windows 7 application compatibility experts are on hand for free seminars and drop in clinic. You can get help getting the Compatible with Windows 7 software logo for your products. Both events follow the The New Efficiency launch events. The events are for ISVs and enterprise developers with an application that you’d like to have run on Windows 7, we’ll help.

Technical Seminar is October 13. Drop in Clinics are available October 14 or 15. Register now. Space is limited. The events are being held at the Partner Adoption Center on the Redmond, WA campus.

Technical Seminar for Developers, Architects

This is a one-day event to enable ISVs to make their applications compatible with Windows 7 and/or certifiable for the Compatible With Window 7 Logo. The typical number of participants is 30. The event is in the Partner Adoption Center in Redmond, WA.

Participants of a Windows 7 Application Compatibility and Certification training will learn about compatibility issues that may cause their Windows XP or Vista application to perform incorrectly on Windows 7, and understand how to remediate those issues. Additionally participants learn what the application requirements are for the Compatible with Windows 7 Logo, how to test and certify their applications and how to use Microsoft’s Windows Error Reporting service. Finally, the training also touches upon the most important opportunities for participants to enhance their applications with functionalities that are new to Windows 7.

The training is primarily targeted at developers and application architects of software vendors with existing Windows XP and Vista applications. Developers and application architects of system integrators and internal enterprise development centers may also find this training useful. This half-day training consists of presentations and demos.

After the training, participants will understand what kind of compatibility issues to expect in their applications, which tools exist to efficiently test their applications and find compatibility issues, how to resolve common issues, how to certify their applications for the Compatible with Windows 7 Logo and which opportunities exist to leverage new features in Windows 7.

Register: Redmond Windows 7 Application Compatibility Technical Seminar for the session on October 13.

Drop In Clinic – Bring Your Application

The drop-in clinic gives you the chance to talk to a Microsoft Windows 7 development expert about Windows 7 application compatibility and/or certifying your application for the Compatible Windows 7 Logo program. The event is in the Partner Adoption Center in Redmond, WA.

If you wish to certify for the Compatible with Windows 7 Logo program, please bring a laptop with Windows 7 (64-bit version required) and your application’s setup files. The Microsoft expert can walk you through the process of testing your application using the Logo Toolkit. If your application passes the tests, you will be able to apply for the logo online while in the clinic!In case you have specific questions about you’re application’s compatibility with Windows 7, you can bring a laptop with your application running on the Windows 7. Please have development tools installed in case you want to debug your application with help of the Microsoft expert.

Register: Redmond Windows 7 Drop in Clinic for session on October 14.
Register: Redmond Windows 7 Drop in Clinic for the session on October 15.

-Mithun Dhar

The Silverlight-3 FireStarter videos are now available for download. If you have any questions, let me know.

www.msdnevents.com/firestarter

-Mithun Dhar

You know you want to get your hands on Windows7 before anyone else does! :) Here’s a simple way to do it and the best part is, it’s FREE!

Be one of the first to get Windows 7* BEFORE it launches to the public on October 22nd.

Here’s all you have to do to be eligible to receive a copy of Windows 7:

• Join Front Runner
• Profile your solution at: www.msdev.com/frontrunner
• Attain application compatibility with Windows 7
• Gain “Front Runner” status** before October 21st 2009.

It’s that easy. Profile today.

Front Runner is an early adopter program that helps you get your applications compatible with the latest Microsoft technologies (“Application-Compatible”). To receive Front Runner status you must:

1. Be at the “Registered” level (minimum) of the Microsoft Partner Network (registration on MPN is free).
2. Have at least one of your applications compatible with Windows 7; and
3. Be profiled and Application-Compatible in Front Runner between July 9 and October 21, 2009.

No Purchase Necessary. Offer good only to legal residents of the 50 United States (includes District of Columbia) 18 years of age or older who are employed in the field of software development and are profiled users (new and existing) of www.msdev.com/frontrunner with a compatible application with either 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7. Employees of Microsoft, their affiliates, subsidiaries, and any person working on the product, project, or promotion, advertising and promotional agencies and the immediate family members of each are not eligible. NOTE: Due to government gift and ethics laws, government employees (including military and employees of public education institutions) are not eligible to participate. Offer good only to the first 5,000 to respond. Limit one (1) copy of Windows 7 Professional (ARV $ 199) per person. This offer is non-transferable and cannot be combined with any other offer. This offer ends on October 21, 2009 while supplies last, and is not redeemable for cash. Taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the recipient. Any gift returned as non-deliverable will not be re-sent. Please allow 6-8 weeks for shipment of your gift.

-Mithun Dhar

Have you seen this video on Ch9? Visual Studio: The Documentary! It’s one of the best videos I’ve seen on Ch9. Ever!

Tina and team did a great job of pulling together lots of historical content, interviews, screenshots, box shots, random tidbits, etc. to really tell the story of Visual Studio past, present, and future.

Part 1

Part 2

If you like this style of documentary you may also want to go back and watch The History of Microsoft, which is another documentary that Tina produced for Channel 9.

I really believe we are ‘bringing back sexy’! :)

-Mithun Dhar