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I also posted this to Facebook. Congrats to the team on 12K BizSpark startups! For information on the program check out Microsoftstartupzone.com. If you have questions, just drop me a note at brianjo@microsoft.com. I’m going to be doing some BizSpark events in the east soon. Stay tuned for details.
Microsoft BizSpark: 12 000 software startups served!
Six months ago, Microsoft announced the availability of a new global program for Startups called Microsoft BizSpark.
Today, as we celebrate the program’s 6-months, we are pleased to announce that more than 12,000 Startups have already joined BizSpark.
BizSpark is available in 82 countries around the world, and, interestingly enough, we’ve seen significant uptake in countries like Brazil, Russia, China and India (4 out of the top 6 countries in terms of enrollment). BizSpark is fulfilling unmet demand for tools and technologies and we are seeing an increasing number of startups in these markets with high potential software industries.
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Just wanted to mention a little show we do called geekSpeak, (And I knew mentioning Jeff would draw some attention.) It’s live on most Wednesdays, but you can see the previous shows on Channel 9 at http://channel9.msdn.com/shows/geekSpeak.
For info about the upcoming geekSpeak episodes, be sure to check out the geekSpeak blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/geekSpeak.
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Joe sent me info about the upcoming MSDN Tiki Hut Roadshow in Florida. Description, dates, and registration info at the link below. Hope to see you there.
Session 1 – jQuery with ASP.NET - JQuery is an open source JavaScript library that has a passionate following among Ajax developers. Microsoft is integrating the open source JQuery library into both the ASP.NET Web Forms and ASP.NET MVC frameworks and providing full product support. Learn how you can take advantage of JQuery to build richly interactive client-side Ajax applications when developing either ASP.NET Web Forms or ASP.NET MVC applications. Also see how JQuery works in combination with ASP.NET AJAX to provide the best framework for building Ajax applications.
Session 2 – Data Services - OnPremise and Off - In the near future, applications will be developed using a combination of custom application code and online building block services, including data-centric services. In this session we discuss advancements in the Microsoft development platform and online service interfaces to enable seamless interaction with data services both on-premises (e.g., ADO.NET Data Services Framework over on-premises SQL Server) and in the cloud (e.g., SQL Server Data Services). Learn how you can leverage existing know-how related to LINQ (Language Integrated Query), data access APIs, data-binding, and more when building applications using online data.
Session 3 – Architecting for the Cloud using Windows Azure - This session provides a tour of the Windows Azure cloud computing platform, an overview of its various components, and explains how these fit together to provide best-of-cloud experiences. We will explore the architecture that links many of the Microsoft .NET services and lets ISVs and businesses deliver compelling solutions. Learn how to compose these services with SQL Data Services to create applications in the cloud and connect them with on-premise systems. We will also examine the next generation of messaging, data, access control, and directory services, and how they fit together to provide a seamless integration into the cloud.
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This seems like a great opportunity for some creative thinking over the holidays. Only 17 days left in Round 1.
Sparks will Fly | 2009 Challenge 
Sparks will Fly
2009 Challenge
Show us your “home of the future” and win $15,000, plus a trip to TechEd 2009!
We know you've got great ideas – and we want to see them in action. So go to your quiet place, think big and enter the Sparks will Fly 2009 Challenge. Here’s how the contest works:
ROUND 1
Submit a 1-3-page paper that outlines an embedded project that will help realize the home of the future. Maybe you envision a thermostat that sets itself according to the latest weather forecast, or a refrigerator that re-orders groceries. Be creative, but make sure it’s an embedded device that you could actually build.
Deadline: January 7, 2009
On January 9, 2009, we’ll announce the 50 participants who will advance to round two.
ROUND 2
It’s time to put your skills to the test. All 50 finalists will receive a free SPARK Your Imagination kit, based on the VIA Artigo Pico-ITX board. Build a working prototype of your idea and submit a 4-5-page paper that describes your solution. You’ll also need to create a 3-minute video that summarizes your project.
Deadline: March 11, 2009
ROUND 3
On March 13, 2009, we’ll reveal the top 3 finalists. Each of the 3 finalists will receive a $1,000 cash prize and a flight to ESC Silicon Valley, where they’ll demonstrate their project during the Microsoft keynote.
The winner will be announced at the end of the keynote, and will receive an additional cash prize of $15,000 and a trip to TechEd 2009 in Los Angeles.
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I was technical editor of the second edition of Writing Secure Code and I'm really proud of that fact. This is a great offer. Enjoy!
Microsoft Press - Writing Secure Code for Windows Vista
Celebrating 25 years
For 25 years, Microsoft Press books have focused on helping you take your skills and knowledge to the next level. Celebrate our 25th Anniversary with a "Free E-Book of the Month" offer! Simply sign up for the Microsoft Press Book Connection Newsletter for notification of offers, register, and download the selection of the month.
Writing Secure Code for Windows Vista
By Michael Howard and David LeBlanc
ISBN: 9780735623934
This reference is ideal for developers who understand the fundamentals of Windows programming and APIs. It complements Writing Secure Code, examining the delta between Windows XP and Windows Vista security. For more information or to buy the print version of this title, visit the Microsoft Learning website .
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Update: Sorry, it turns out we need to move our geekSpeak to January 8th. Sorry for any inconvenience.
If you get a chance, check out the geekSpeak today (Dec 17, 3:00 EST/12:00 PST) with John Papa. He's got a new book on Silverlight 2 coming out and he's going to talk about data services with Silverlight.
MSDN Webcast: geekSpeak: Silverlight and ADO.NET Data Services with John Papa (Level 200)
Event Overview
In this geekSpeak, Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) John Papa explores how to consume ADO.NET Data Services from a Microsoft Silverlight 2 application. Be sure to bring your questions about Silverlight for John. 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.
Guest Presenter: John Papa, Trainer, ASPSOFT
John Papa is a Microsoft Visual C# Most Valuable Professional (MVP), International .NET Association (INETA) speaker, member of the WPF and Silverlight Insiders, consultant, speaker, author, and trainer for ASPSOFT. He specializes in professional application development with Microsoft technologies, including Microsoft Visual Basic, Visual C#, Microsoft .NET, and Microsoft SQL Server. John has written over 60 articles and authored several books on data access technologies, including ASP.NET, Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Microsoft Silverlight, ADO.NET, XML, and SQL Server. He can often be found speaking at industry conferences such as VSLive and DevConnections and viewed on MSDN webcasts. John is currently working on his upcoming book Data-Driven Services with Silverlight 2 (O'Reilly, 2009). You can always find John at http://johnpapa.net
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Posted to my video blog on Channel 9:
Sayed Hashimi on MS Build This weekend I visited the Tampa Code Camp, where I was able to talk to Sayed Hashimi. Sayed is the co-author of the upcoming MS Press book title, Inside the Microsoft Build Engine. In this short talk, Sayed describes some of the features of MS Build and shows how MS Build can be used to deploy an app as part of the build process. Inside the Microsoft Build Engine is scheduled to be released in January.
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Just found out about this from Paul Thurrott's Supersite Blog. Very cool.
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Small Basic is a project that's aimed at bringing "fun" back to programming. By providing a small and easy to learn programming language in a friendly and inviting development environment, Small Basic makes programming a breeze. Ideal for kids and adults alike, Small Basic helps beginners take the first step into the wonderful world of programming.
Small Basic
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I wanted to post this for those who weren't aware of the information available in the monthly MSDN Flash. You can actually customize your subscription and you'll hear about events and opportunities from your local field evangelists. Check it out here:
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MSDN Flash delivers critical developer news to you in one information-dense, compact newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest development news from Microsoft by subscribing today. Learn about the latest resources, SDKs, downloads, partner offers, security news, and national and local developer events. Every other week you'll get an e-mail containing pointers to all of the new articles, samples, and headlines from MSDN Online, the MSDN Library, the Knowledge Base, the Developer Centers, and other Microsoft Web sites. In addition, look for announcements of Microsoft and industry events, training opportunities, chats, and webcasts.
Get the Developer News You Want with the Customizable MSDN Flash
Whether you're a new or long-time subscriber, customizing MSDN Flash is easy. Just visit the MSDN Flash customization page (if you're not a subscriber, you'll be asked to subscribe on the way). From there, you can check which sections of MSDN Flash you want to receive, and your next issue will include all the headlines for that section. Clear the check boxes for the sections you're not interested in, and you'll receive only the top story for those sections.
If you're an MSDN subscriber, or interested in news for students or public sector software developers, make sure you check the boxes for MSDN Subscriber Benefits, Student News and Resources, or Government Resources.
See the Current Issue of MSDN Flash
Interested? Check out the latest issue of MSDN Flash.
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I'm in the process of posting a small backlog of really excellent episodes of Glen Gordon's geekSpeak show to Channel 9. Keep your on on the page for updates over the next couple of days, or subscribe to one of the feeds listed below.
Total Episodes: 42 | Subscribe:
geekSpeak is a weekly “talk-radio” for developers by working developers. Co-hosted by Glen Gordon and Lynn Langit (MSDN events). You ask the questions – working experts answer. Engaging talk with whiteboard and demos – live or recorded. Pre-show questions and post-show resources on the geekSpeak blog.
geekSpeak recording - SharePoint Wikis with David Mann
geekSpeak recording - ASP.NET Dynamic Data with Rachel Appel
geekSpeak recording - Virtualization for Developers with Step
geekSpeak recording - Dynamic Languages and the DLR with Mike Vincent
geekSpeak recording: The Mole Visualizer with Karl Shifflet
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Update: Here's a better BizSpark Link.
New from Microsoft. (Who said this was a bad time to start a new company?)
Microsoft BizSpark
Microsoft BizSpark—Turning today’s most promising Startups into tomorrow’s most successful businesses.
BizSpark is an innovative new program that unites Startups with entrepreneurial and technology resources in a global community with a common goal of supporting and accelerating the success of a new generation of high-potential Startups.
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This morning I updated my bufferoverrun.net domain to point to this blog (http://blogs.msdn.com/brianjo). I also updated my Feedurner RSS feed to include the RSS from this blog rather than my old spaces blog.
Things won't change to much if you're already subscribing to my feed, but you might see a few really old blog entries until I build up a number of new entries.
If you haven't subscribed to my RSS feed and you want to, I would suggest using http://rss.bufferoverrun.net, which points at my FeedBurner feed and which will usually be pointed at whatever the latest RSS feed(s) I'm using.
I should also mention that I'm on Twitter and if you want to follow me, just visit http://twitter.com/brize and click follow. And finally, you can always e-mail me directly at brianjo@microsoft.com.
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Update: I installed this and got a message that they were at capacity. So you might want to hold off for a bit.
Another good find today on Channel 10.
Live Mesh For Windows Mobile | Sarah In Tampa | Channel 10
If you have a Windows Mobile 6.x phone and like either in the U.S. or U.K., then you can download and install the new Windows Live Mesh for Mobile client software, which is only being provided on a limited basis - meaning, first-come, first-serve. To access the downloadable file, visit http://m.mesh.com from your phone’s browser. If you had previously been running an older version of the Mesh Mobile Client, you’ll need to make sure that you upgrade to version number 0.9.3424.6 (You can check this through Menu -> About). If you need the upgraded client, the direct link is http://m.mesh.com/install/wm6/LiveMesh.cab. After installation, your phone becomes a member of your device ring, just like your desktop and laptop computers are, and you can then add mobile files to your mesh as well as access files from your other devices.
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One of the things you need to do to keep your software safe is to be aware of trends and vulnerabilities that are currently being exploited by attackers.
Today I followed a link to the Microsoft Malware Protection Center from one of my friends on Twitter. Excellent find. This is a fantastic resource with tons of good information. (I've been out of the security business for way too long.)
The Microsoft Security Intelligence Report (SIR) provides an in-depth perspective on the changing threat landscape including software vulnerability disclosures and exploits, malicious software (malware), and potentially unwanted software. Using data derived from hundreds of millions of Windows users, and some of the busiest online services on the Internet, this report also provides a detailed analysis of the threat landscape and the changing face of threats and countermeasures and includes updated data on privacy and breach notifications.
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I saw this morning that my friend Asli (among others) was interviewed by Laura at the PDC last week about WomenBuild. Check out the interview and note that WomenBuild is going to be at the various MSDN Developer Conferences around the US.
WomenBuild... inspiring career paths in technology | Laura Foy | Channel 10
Last week at PDC I made it a point to swing by the WomenBuild networking event. The idea was to give groups of individuals (not necessarily solely women) LEGO® Bricks to build with as part of the LEGO® Serious Play Program (LSP). The goal was to incorporate the hands on process with the creative mind and....PLAY. It's always inspiring and astounding to see what happens when great minds gather and open conversation takes place amongst the worlds greatest developers and aspiring developers. It almost made me want to be a developer...Check out their FaceBook page and join me!
Please REGISTER for the MSDN Developer Conference coming to a city near you for more experiences with WomenBuild!
