Barry Fridley - Hospitality Industry Technology Strategist

Silverlight 4 Beta Now Available

The Silverlight 4 Beta was unveiled at the Professional Developer's Conference (PDC) in Los Angeles, continuing the rapid pace of innovation for the Silverlight platform. In addition, ASP.NET MVC Beta 2 was released, which introduces improved Visual Studio tooling support, extensible client validation and lots of other features that help developers build Web sites and applications faster.

Silverlight

· Silverlight helps companies design, develop and deliver engaging, interactive user experiences for Web, desktop and mobile applications when online or offline. Silverlight is a free plug-in, powered by the .NET Framework and compatible with multiple browsers, devices and platforms. With printing support, rich reporting and charting, and integration with back-end systems and server products including Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, Microsoft Office and Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS), the Silverlight 4 Beta delivers a full suite of powerful features to application developers, bringing innovative platform capabilities to browser-based experiences.

· For more information, see: http://www.silverlight.net/getstarted/silverlight-4-beta/.

Want to develop apps for Microsoft Surface?

Microsoft has made it easier for developers to get familiar with Surface and to build Surface applications. At this weeks Professional Developers Conference, Microsoft announced the broad availability of the Microsoft Surface SDK Workstation Edition. Now anyone interested in developing collaborative, engaging massive multi-touch, multi-user experiences for Surface can easily access the software at no cost through surface.com.

The Surface hardware is needed to deploy an application, and many use the Surface Developer units to create and test their applications directly on the device. The SDK Workstation Edition lets you use a PC to develop and a PC based simulator to test applications using multiple mice and tag simulation tools. We launched resources for developers, designers and IT Professionals.

Supporting Surface Tools are also now on MSDN, TechNet, Download Center

To support the launch of the SDK on MSDN, we are transitioning away from our private Surface Community site and integrating into existing public Microsoft sites.

We have launched the following new pieces and we will be decommissioning the private Community site over the next few months:

• Surface Web site (www.surface.com)
  • New Technical Resources section so prospective and existing customers and partners can quickly connect to the resources they need to learn more about Surface or get support on issues.
• MSDN (http://msdn.microsoft.com)
  • New Microsoft Surface section of the MSDN Library (under .NET Development), providing the Surface SDK documentation and other topics about developing Surface applications.
  • New Surface-specific forums about designing and developing Surface applications.
• TechNet (http://technet.microsoft.com)
  • New Microsoft Surface section of the TechNet Library (under Products and Technologies), describing the basics of the Surface software and hardware and how to set up, customize, troubleshoot, and maintain Surface units.
  • New Surface-specific forums about the Surface software platform, hardware, and applications.
• Microsoft Download center (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads)
  • All Surface downloads, including the Surface SDK Workstation Edition, applications, documentation, and any software fixes.
• Microsoft Support (http://support.microsoft.com)
  • Public KB articles for fixes, known issues, and workarounds.
  • Surface Solution Center to direct customers to the right self-support and assisted-support options

Mouse 2.0 – Concept Mice for Multi-touch computing

It started with Microsoft Surface and now with the multi-touch capabilities native to Windows 7, it’s time to re-think the mouse and how we interact with computers. This video showcases five concept mice and how they might handle multi-touch and gestures in addition to traditionl pointer-based desktop operations.

If you’re interested, you can read more in this paper from Microsoft Applied Sciences Group, Mouse 2.0 : Multi-Touch Meets the Mouse.

Business Productivity Online Suite for Hospitality

I put together a quick webcast that reviews the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS for short) and how it can address some of the unique scenarios facing the hospitality industry. BPOS is Microsoft’s cloud based productivity offering which is essentially Exchange (email), SharePoint (portal and collaboration), LiveMeeting (web conferencing) and Office Communicator (IM) hosted in the Microsoft datacenter and delivered as a service.

Given the highly distributed and heavily franchised organizational model within hospitality, a cloud-based service addresses a number of issues that hoteliers, restaurants and similar companies face all the time. There a lot of benefits to such an approach. Here are three that come immediately to mind:

• Enable better and consistent communication throughout an organization
• Corporate communications
• Between properties
• With staff and team members on property
• On-property, off-property, at home or mobile
• Improved communication and perception with guests
• Provide a centrally managed and secure environment
• Franchisee’s, properties/stores and staff already communicate and collaborate electronically
• The just do it via a variety of consumer-focused sites and services (i.e. GMail, Hotmail, AIM, iDrive, etc)
• None of these services is managed or controlled by the brand or necessarily secure
• Opportunities for new services revenue billed out to the properties/stores
• Solutions can be Corporate hosted, Microsoft-hosted or 3rd party hosted

So give the video a look. I hope it spurs some thought. To support this webcast, we also have a new Business Productivity Online Suite for Hospitality landing page. You can find lots of additional info on BPOS and potential uses in the industry.

Windows 7 and Family Guy???.. I can’t picture it either. But I can’t wait to watch it.

I’m sure there are more than a few lawyers in Redmond losing sleep over this, but Microsoft has signed a deal with Fox to sponsor a variety show produced by "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane. The special show, named "Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show", will air on November 8 in the US.

On top of the usual Family Guy goodness (or badness depending on your point of view) there will be no commercials or breaks… just solid Family Guy fun. The show will feature unique humor with original animation, live-action performances of "Family Guy's" most memorable musical numbers, comedy sketches and surprise celebrity guests.

Want to work for Microsoft…? Microsoft Retail Stores that is

You’ve probably heard about Microsoft’s plans to build retail stores. The first two locations have been announced as Scottsdale, AZ and Mission Viejo, CA. And Microsoft Retail Stores are hiring.

Microsoft Releases Updated PCI DSS Compliance Planning Guide

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Compliance Planning Guide is an update of the first version of this guide. The guide is designed to help organizations meet Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requirements.

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard Compliance Planning Guide version 1.2 is targeted for merchants that accept payment cards, financial institutions that process payment card transactions, and service providers—third-party companies that provide payment card processing or data storage services. IT solutions for each of these groups must meet all PCI DSS requirements. The guide is intended to augment the IT Compliance Management Guide, which introduces a framework-based approach to creating IT controls as part of your efforts to comply with multiple regulations and standards. This guide also describes Microsoft products and technology solutions that you can use to implement a series of IT controls to help meet PCI DSS requirements, and many other regulatory obligations.
Release Notes:

• Version 1.0 was released July 9, 2007
• New in version 1.2:
  Guide updated for PCI DSS standards 1.2
  Updates to all identified Microsoft products and version

Hard Rock Cafe – Las Vegas at the Forefront of Interactive Digital Experiences

I spent time yesterday with Joe Tenczar (CIO) and his technical team at the new Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas. Joe and team have created some outstanding interactive digital experiences based on Microsoft technology. The new Las Vegas cafe is the marquee location for new unique interactive experiences for guests – from right in their booth to throughout the Cafe with Microsoft Surface and the Rock Wall featuring multi-touch technology enabling fans to explore the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia collection and virtually tour all of the company’s 156 venues around the world. Hard Rock has added all this cool technology as a way to further differentiate their brand and add additional value to their customers by letting you experience more for less.

You can see a video of Joe (and my manager Sandra Andrews) showcasing some of the new technology inside of Hard Rock here.

Excuse the poor quality of the pictures. The day was quite bright and the glare messed with my camera.

Here’s Joe in front of the interactive “Rock Wall”, an 18 foot wide by 4 foot tall interactive touch wall. The Rock Wall showcases Hard Rocks unparalleled collection of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia. The technology allows fans to explore the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia collection and virtually tour all of the company’s 156 venues around the world.

Microsoft Surface: Hard Rock collaborated with Duncan/Channon and Vertigo to create several custom applications for use on the Microsoft Surface platform. A key feature is the worldwide memorabilia application that allows the guest to locate Hard Rock properties from around the world, explore images of both the exterior and interior of the building, then deep-zoom into the iconic memorabilia items housed within those walls.

Here’s a group interacting with Hard Rock’s Microsoft Surface, custom built into a great bar-sized format.

Booth Interactive: Hard Rock, Duncan/Channon and Vertigo created a custom, touch-based interface for 38 of the cafe’s booths, where guests can explore memorabilia, peruse merchandise and vote on what video plays next in the cafe.

Joe demonstrating the Booth Interactive experience

Looking Glass – Listen, Participate and Analyze Social Media Activity

 Microsoft LookingGlass Helps Businesses Catch the Social Media Wave at Advertising Week 2009

Today at Advertising Week 2009, Robin Domeniconi, Vice President of US Sales for Microsoft Advertising, will unveil a proof-of-concept prototype business tool, “code-named LookingGlass,” that lets companies listen to, participate in, and analyze social media.

Hard Rock Unveils Microsoft Surface

The new Hard Rock Las Vegas Cafe had it’s grand opening on September 5, 2009. The new Las Vegas cafe utilizes Microsoft Surface, providing a 360-degree, multi-user interface that uses cameras to sense objects, touch and hand gestures on the 30-inch display. Hard Rock and Vertigo collaborated to create several custom applications for use on the Microsoft Surface platform. A key feature is the worldwide memorabilia application that allows the guest to locate Hard Rock properties from around the world, explore images of both the exterior and interior of the building, then deep-zoom into the iconic memorabilia items housed within those walls. Deep zoom was previously showcased via Hard Rock's Memorabilia 2.0 online portal. This application also grants users the ability to pivot from one collection to another, using categories such as artist, year, genre, and type. Guests can also expect many other custom applications via Microsoft Surface designed to showcase Hard Rock's unique content.

Sin City gets first "out-of-box" memorabilia interfaces

Two New Features for POSReady 2009

Internet Explorer 8 and Silverlight 3.0 are now available for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) on the ECE for Windows Embedded POSReady 2009.   This update is also available directly from the Microsoft Download Center; however end-customers should refer to their OEM servicing agreement prior to obtaining these updates from any source other than directly from their OEM to ensure uninterrupted support.

More Details:

IE8-

Windows® Internet Explorer® 8 (IE8) for Windows® Embedded POSReady 2009 offers partners new opportunities for innovation and extending the reach of online services to increase exposure and provide value to users. Features like Accelerators, Web Slices, and Visual Search enable constant connection with customers -regardless of where they browse. These service-integration features can be implemented without changing core code belonging to the service itself.

Silverlight 3.0-

Microsoft® Silverlight™ 3 for Windows® Embedded POSReady 2009 is a major update and delivers many new features and capabilities, enabling new scenarios for Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 devices. New features include support for hardware graphics acceleration, HD support, IIS Smooth Streaming, richer and more immersive graphic experiences, Out of Browser support and much more.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words (lots of pictures even more)… Bing Visual Search

Bing 2.0 has released and Visual Search is here.

The Bing team has made several improvements to the Decision Engine in this latest release and Visual Search promises to change the way we do research, shop and use the internet. Visual Search is a new way to formulate and refine your search queries through imagery, particularly for sets of results that tend to be more structured. These data groupings are called Galleries. To try Visual Search for yourself go to www.bing.com/visualsearch.

Visual Search – Travel and Hospitality.

VisualSearch has the potential to greatly change the way we shop for products and services online. It lends itself particularly well to the travel and hospitality, where pictures and visual experiences are very important. VisualSearch is currently in beta with about 40 pre-loaded galleries and many more coming. The Travel Destinations gallery is a good way showcase the potential impact in the industry. Consider how powerful this will be when you can visually see individual properties, rooms, restaurants, lobbies, meeting spaces, etc.

View all travel destinations

VisualSearch allows you to refine your search by a variety of criteria and see the results narrow visually

Narrow by travel time from my home location

Twitter and the Hospitality Executive

Hospitality Technology magazine has a great article new article on social computing -  “Twitter: What Hospitality Execs Need to Know”. According to the article, “Twitter is already changing the hospitality industry… If used correctly, the potential for new business growth is tremendous”. HTMag points out three key keys to making Twitter work for you

• Build a Community
• Build a Brand
• Connect with Customers

I’ve talked about this a bit before, but social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook and others are mainstream now. You need to make these outlets part of your overall marketing and brand plans, just like you used to consider print, TV and other more “traditional outlets”.

What in the World is xRM and Why Should I Care?

xRM is one of the latest buzz-words in business. If you haven’t heard it yet, you probably will. If you have  heard it and wondered what it’s all about or what it means to you, check out this YouTube video.

xRM (Anything Relationship Management) is the natural evolution of CRM (Customer Relationship Management). In today’s dynamic business environment companies demand the ability to manage anything (X=anything), not simply relationships with customers.

Given that, what does all this mean to hospitality? Well, since the X in xRM can be anything, it’s relevant in the ability to manage Guest Relationships, Franchise and Property Relationships and how marketing campaigns can impacts these things. By taking a platform approach to traditional CRM capabilities, Microsoft Dynamics CRM delivers an environment for real business solutions that address the specific needs of hospitality. A few real-world example of this in hospitality are Neudesic and Sonoma Partners.

Neudeisc has created a Guest Relationship Management system called NeuGuest

Sonoma has created a Franchise Management Solution that is currently in use in both foodservice and lodging.

The INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati, The Microsoft Olympics and a Great Day with High School Kids

A few of my Cincinnati Microsoft peers and I spent some time yesterday with a great group of high-school students with the INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati. Kids from about a dozen different local schools got together to form four teams and compete in the “Microsoft Olympics”. Each team spent time working with and experiencing the newly released Windows 7. After gaining some first-hand experience with the new OS, Windows Live Messenger, Hotmail, Live Mesh and other technologies, the goal of the day was to research Microsoft competitors and competitive threats to the different technologies. After the research, each team delivered a 5 minute presentation discussing those threats and suggestions on how to overcome them. For a group of kids that don’t usually get in front of strangers to speak, I was very impressed with how well they handled themselves and communicated their ideas. There was a lot of potential in the room.

It was a great day and working with the kids was fun. It was also very informative just listening to the kids talk to better understand how they view computers, technology and what’s important to them. The overwhelming consensus among all the teams was that Microsoft’s biggest competitor (at least for Windows 7) is Microsoft itself with Windows XP. Apple and Google also have considerable mind-share with the kids. Talking with them reinforced to me where Microsoft has done well and where we still need to make some ground. A big highlight for me was showing the kids some cool feature in Win7, Bing, Mesh or something else and having them say “Cool… I didn’t know Microsoft did that”.