This is not my first launch whilst working for Microsoft. There's been Windows Vista, Exchange 2007, and a while back the 2005 Ready Launch (Visual Studio 2005, SQL Server 2005). And Microsoft launches are certainly not new to me in my career. I was there...

So I'm at the launch event, ready to rock, but I thought I'd blog (initially at least) on a slightly different spin to the launch of Windows, SQL, and Visual Studio 2008. That is interoperability with the Open Source Communities: We have a campaign for...

I know, I know, I've been lax in posting my (our) progress. Apologies for that, something about access to the numbers of the team, and a set of scales whilst I was in the USA. But I'm back now, and here's how things stand. The overall team weight is currently...

I've long believed that people, on the whole, follow two principles: In general, they wish to do the right thing Overall they'll follow the path of least resistance Which is why if you're a student, and wish to develop software, but can't afford to buy...

On Wednesday evening we had the regular TechReady "Ask the Experts" and Games night. Due to absolutely no planning on my part, I ended up at the SQL Integration Services table. Boy, what a bunch of features are coming down the pipe in SQL2008...

Talk about inspiring!! This morning our keynote was from Michio Kaku , a Theoretical Physicist and Futurist. We looked into advances in wearable computing, from glasses, to clothes, jewellery even. In a world where the average silicon chip costs less...

I went to a session today entitled "True Evangelism." Rather than a breakout, this was a "chalk-talk." Which is to say interactive, with everyone able to give their perspective and ask their questions. We covered a lot of ground, from...

Just heard about some of the training our partners are offering for the new Heroes Launch Products. So if you're going to sign up for our Demo Competition (more details on that coming soon), this would be a great start to get involved with the technology...

We've managed to gain a limited allocation of tickets to the Customer Launch events for Australian Usergroup Leaders. Please check your email for details and instructions on how to apply for these. These are fantastic tickets to what is panning out to...

This mornings keynote was hosted by Norm Judah , CTO for Microsoft Services; and Steve Balmer, CEO of Microsoft. Norm, resplendent in a pink shirt, was his usual clear, fun, and self-effacing self. As for Steve, the electricity and energy of the man....

Microsoft Research announced that a team at RMIT is one of 20 of 100 applicants whom won a research grant for work in Online Search. The RMIT team which includes: Mingfang Wu, Andrew Turpin, Simon Puglisi, Falk Scholer, James Thom, is researching to find...

Yes, you read right!!! SonyEricsson, arguably one of the most popular mobile platforms in the globe since the early '90's has announced the "Experia X1" their Windows Mobile Device . You heard it here first R 42

...at the conference hotel today http://reviews.cnet.com/7009-7254_7-0.html?CType=2277&ac=925&ISPID=&ISPNAME=&&kbps=54 R 42

Heard of Twitter ? That's a question I've asked at 3 presentations I've given recently. It's one of those "polarising" questions. All of the audiences I've asked the question have been technical people, both within and out of the Microsoft ecosystem...

Most of you reading my blog will be familiar with the concept of a usergroup. Perhaps you are a member, a leader, or perhaps you don't feel there's any particular value for you.... Simply put, a usergroup is a collection of people whom have a similar...

So a couple of days ago I blogged about my intention, nay, passion to maintain my diet and exercise regime whilst here at the Academic Airlift Conference here in Seattle. I thought I'd give a little visual representation of just how difficult this is...

I Love our generation. I Love the technology we work with, and I especially Love the Internet. One of the things I love is enabling people, connecting people. The implications of that over my career, has been to work with a heap of technologies: JCL,...

For Christmas I was fortunate enough to get everyone in the family a Zune , including myself. I got one of the 2nd Gen 80GB Zunes, and I have to say it is an awesome device. No doubt you already have your personal preferences about media players. Some...

Or rather F#. Sorry, poor musician's joke, which doesn't translate, but Lucy my wife will get it. (she's a muso, not a geek) In my new role I've been starting to look around at dev technologies I can start playing around with again to bring me into dev...

At least that's how I felt this morning :) No, no, I didn't have too many beers last night. I did, however, have too little sleep. Yep, a function of being away at a conference, and trying to keep on top of my day job. So what have I been learning thus...

Well, here I am, in Seattle, and the weather is just as shown on TV (Gray's Anatomy), which is to say cold and wet. I am enjoying being back though. I'm finding it like seeing an old friend. There are still new experiences to enjoy, but a familiarity...

Just connecting through San Francisco en route to my 2 week study madness in Seattle, and thought I might share my travel experiences. Firstly the flight was superb, at least that which I remember... Y'see I got a 4 seat row to myself, which is arguably...

If you've ever travelled to the USA, personally, or on expenses, you'll understand the difficulty in maintaining a weight-loss program. This is the country with the highest overweight people per capita for a reason, and most of those don't eat 3 meals...

The time has come for our bi-annual TechReady event. This is a training conference hosted for Microsoft technical roles in Seattle. Typically each MS member gets to go to Seattle once a year, either in the Winter (now) or Summer (Jul/Aug). The conference...