Way back in March this year we kicked off the largest ever launch of a Microsoft product, with the Heroes Happen {Here} Launch of Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008. Since then we've been running a competition throughout the community of Microsoft technologists, at Usergroups...

Our epic Demos Happen {Here} competition is rapidly moving to its next phase, the State Finals. In fact there are less than 49 hours (as of this post) left to register an entry. So how does is the competition stacking up? In terms of # of entries by State: Qld - 6 NSW - 5 SA - 4 Vic - 2 I believe there...

Those interested in entering the Demos Happen {Here} Competition all know that a condition of entry is to post your video to http://sliverlight.live.com Our original intent was to enable everyone to stream their video on their own blog, and feature it on the Heroes Happen {Here} Community Website . Since...

Our National Demo Competition is starting to hot up, despite the seeming lack of activity on the Community Website, and I've been fielding a number of questions across the board. I thought it may be high time to post the most frequent, and attempt at least to answer these as best I can. As ever if you...

Are you worthy of the title Australian Demo God 2008 ? Do you have what it takes to demonstrate complex technical techniques simply, efficiently, enthusiastically? Do you want to be celebrated for your technical prowess at TechEd08 in Sydney later this year? Are you confident enough to win an all expenses...

Once all the demos were delivered, we were treated to an evening out on the Swan River. As you can see, we were treated like kings, cruising downstream with the magnetic views of Perth in the background. We reached the apex of the cruise at about sunset. Watching a host of Kite surfers do their stuff...

I got into Perth this afternoon, and after a bite to eat, headed straight to the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. What a great location. Of course, the sound, vision, technical, and events crews were still in the process of "bumping in" and I wondered over to the Auditorium, where the...

We're in Adelaide, and it's HOT, HOT, HOT!!! Not only with the launch, but also the weather. 11th consecutive day of +35 deg C temperatures. Walking outside is like peering into a furnace. The summer that Sydney missed. Those of you following our exploits will know that I was down to deliver the Keynote...

It's been a hugely eventful week (check out what happened to our family last night) for me. Not least of which has been trying to come to grips with the Keynote Demo for the Adelaide Wave Launch. But most of us arrive tomorrow and have a jam-packed agenda: Tomorrow evening Steve Riley will be presenting...

So I'm here at Melbourne with the second iteration of the Heroes Happens Launch, and if anything, I'm enjoying it more than Sydney. Last week I spent much of my time chatting to our MVP's, Usergroup Leaders and customers. And although I've been meeting heaps of people here too, I've taken the time out...

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 way back when Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and...

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 Courses include: Note: The above is an image,...

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 be a great event - a full day of training on these...

Late breaking news: I’ve managed to secure some places for UG Leads and MVPs at the Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCT) Summit Welcome Reception to be held on Tuesday 29 th January . The Summit presents an opportunity for you to meet and connect with our MCTs as well as other key influencers in...

The "2008 Wave Launch" aka Heroes Happen Here 2008, is almost upon us. There'll be Customer and Partner events at all of the major cities, beginning with Sydney at the end of February. However, I want to direct you to a greater happening, with a larger reach. The Heroes {Community} Launch....