Gunther's Blog

Expect the Unexpected

2009-10-21T22:24:29Z

They come from different backgrounds, using different platforms and different languages to accomplish different goals. The common denominator is a need to build quickly on a reliable, versatile framework. They use the .NET Framework. Check out their stories and tell your own. Join the growing, global crowd of developers using the .NET Framework to make your vision a reality.

Read about Al Perez, Chief Architect at Total Computer and their success story with Microsoft technologies here.

Update: Windows 7 Taskbar in 5 Minutes – Icon Overlay

2009-10-07T14:57:55Z

Upon request, I started updating my screen-cast series on Windows 7 light-up features to show the implementation using the released version of the WindowsAPICodePack.

Stay tuned for the videos on the progress bar, preview, and sensor capabilities of Windows 7. Let me know if you have any questions or have ideas for other topics.

http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/GLenz/Update-Windows-7-Taskbar-in-5-Minutes/

Show Windows7 Compatibility before October 22nd => get great Benefits + a Free Copy of Windows 7

2009-10-06T17:19:51Z

With all the buzz generated around the Windows 7 launch and the raving reviews of the newest Windows version, I wanted to make sure you are aware of the opportunity to not only get your free copy of Windows 7 but also how to receive other exclusive benefits for showing that your application is compatible and running on Windows7!

With the general availability of Windows 7 just around the corner this is your chance to get the following exclusive and free benefits from Microsoft for your Company within less than 10 minutes:

· A copy of Windows 7 BEFORE it launches to the general public on October 22^nd

· Exposure through the Microsoft Channels

· Marketing material for Co-Marketing

· Microsoft Partner Network Points

· Use of the Microsoft Frontrunner logo

Let me know if you would like to know more on how to receive these benefits!

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sky-diving fun at the team offsite in Denver :-)

2009-09-13T04:35:14Z

Windows 7 Incubation Week Start-up Video – Featuring Talented Young Actors :-)

2009-09-05T03:08:03Z

Windows Cache Extension 1.0 for PHP 5.2 and 5.3 - Beta

2009-09-04T19:48:38Z

The Windows Cache Extension for PHP is a PHP accelerator that is used to increase the speed of PHP code running on the Windows Operating System. The extension increases PHP performance by:

Caching the contents of PHP script files in shared memory, which helps to reduce the amount of file system I/O operations that is performed by the PHP engine. This is especially important when the PHP scripts are located on a remote UNC file share.
Caching the mappings between the relative file paths and corresponding absolute file paths. This reduces the amount of requests to file system when PHP scripts perform any file operations by using relative file paths.
Caching the compiled PHP opcode in shared memory to avoid the overhead of parsing and compiling the PHP source code for every request.

IMPORTANT: The Windows Cache Extension for PHP can only be used with the non-thread-safe builds of PHP.

You can download the extensions from here:

Windows Cache Extension 1.0 for PHP 5.2 Beta

Windows Cache Extension 1.0 for PHP 5.3 Beta

Forum II + Happy Hour:“How to Fail Miserably as a Cloud Software Provider"

2009-09-03T17:15:17Z

The Silicon Alley Council in NYC invites you to another great session, Part II of our series with focus on cloud computing:

http://www.meetup.com/siliconalleycouncil/

This month’s event is VERY exciting. We are going to hear directly from the creators of the revolutionary SaaSGrid SaaS Application server, who also happen to be the authors at SaaSBlogs, one of the most popular communities for Cloud and SaaS thought leadership! Apprenda’s CEO Sinclair Schuller will be giving a presentation entitled: “How to Fail Miserably as a Cloud Software Provider”. He’ll be discussing the key business and technical ingredients that make SaaS companies successful and why architecture reigns in the cloud.

You don’t want to miss this event. Networking time is expanded to before and after the presentation. Plus, you’ll have an opportunity to see SaaSGrid in action at the demo station setup for those that are interested.

In the meantime, you can find out more about Apprenda here:
http://www.apprenda.c...
http://www.saasblogs....
The founders of Apprenda began working on SaaSGrid in 2005, and by 2007, was officially funded by investment from High Peaks Venture Partners.

AGENDA

6:00 – 6:15 Check-in @ registration desk, drink specials, networking

6:15 – 6:45 Appetizers, drink specials, networking

6:45 – 7:45 Presentation: “How to Fail Miserably as a Cloud Software Provider”

7:45 – 8:00 Q & A, drink specials

8:00 – 9:00 Demo station, drink specials, networking, raffle

DRINK SPECIALS + APPETIZERS IN MEETING ROOM ONLY!

$3 draft & bottled beer - Bud, Amstel, Coors, Miller, Corona

$4 house wine - Glass Mountain chardonnay, cabernet, merlot; Santa Marina pinot

$5 mixed house drinks

http://www.meetup.com/siliconalleycouncil/

First Ever NYC BizSpark meetup…. Sept. 14th

2009-09-01T01:15:21Z

Click here to check out
The BizSpark. Entrepreneur Bootcamp. Avec Microsoft!

Zune HD Available for Pre-Order Today

2009-08-13T15:06:35Z

Zune HD, the next generation of Microsoft Corp.’s portable digital media player, is available now for pre-order and is set to hit store shelves on Sept. 15. The player, available in 16GB and 32GB capacities, is the first touch-screen Zune and includes powerful playback technology to give you a different way to experience media on the go. Combined with unparalleled PC software and online services such as Zune Pass, Zune provides a rich and meaningful connection to music, videos, podcasts and more.

Pre-order Zune HD in 16GB Black and 32GB Platinum through http://www.zune.net/zunehd from Amazon.com, Best Buy,Walmart and Microsoft. Beginning Sept. 15, at http://www.ZuneOriginals.net, both 16GB and 32GB capacities of Zune HD will be available in five different colors with the option to customize your player with one of 10 new engravings designed by guest artists.

https://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2009/aug09/08-13preorderzunema.mspx

VSTS 2010 Beta Installation and Error 1500. Another installation is in progress.

2009-08-11T23:45:25Z

Yesterday I installed the Windows 7 Enterprise RTM version on my Laptop, followed by VSTS 2010 beta, and SQL 2008. Everything appeared to be going well, but then later this morning I tried to install some other application and I got a variety of errors reminding me that “another installation is in progress” and I should first finish the installation before attempting to install another program.

After some un-successful attempts to figure out what program caused the problem and deleting the Registry key indicating “InProgress” I was pulling my hair because the registry key was appearing again every time shortly after deleting it, I guess to prevent people like me to mess with it ;-).

Long story short, finally I got the system to comply with my request to install another program by

Disabling the “Windows Installer” service
Rebooting
Enabling the “Windows Installer” service
Rebooting

The message that I got when trying to install the sample database indicated that the Visual Studio Tools for applications 2.0 was still in progress and would have to be re-run (see below).

It seems that the installations now succeed…. Took me some time to figure it out, but I hope that I can help some of you to avoid a similar odyssey since the solution really just took the time for two reboots…..

Have fun….

Windows 7 Incubation Week In Reston, VA for Entrepreneurs

2009-07-30T20:31:59Z

Are you or do you want to be an Entrepreneur? Do you have a great idea about a software product or service? Could you use technical expertise from Microsoft experts to implement your idea? Could you use exposure of your product and company through the Microsoft channels?

If your answer to one ore more of the questions above was yes, then the incubation week is for YOU and best of all, it is free!

To apply or if you have any question simply apply by contacting Sanjay Jain or Ashish Jaiman. Please provide information on your venture, your product idea, and the team members attending the incubation week.

Where: Microsoft Technology Center, Reston, VA

When: Mon 8/24/2009 to Fri 8/28/2009.

The event consists of ½ day of training, 3 ½ days of active prototype/development time, and a final day for packaging/finishing and reporting out to a panel of judges for various prizes.

Some more information below:

Microsoft BizSpark Incubation Week for Windows 7 is designed to offer the following assistance to entrepreneurs:

Learn and build next generation applications using new and unique Windows 7 capabilities with the help of on-site advisors and off-shore development teams
Access coaches, guest speakers, and a panel of industry experts
Generate marketing buzz for your brand
Create opportunities to be featured in upcoming Windows 7 launch activities

In order to be accepted your venture should, but is not limited to, target one or more of the following scenarios:

Windows Touch, ink, gesture support, plus handwriting recognition enabling new input capabilities
Rich Animation Framework
Sensor and Location Framework (GPS, light, motion)
New taskbar, destinations, and shell integration enhancing discoverability and usability
New extensible Ribbon adding Office 2007-style controls, menus, and galleries to your application

This event is a no-fee event (plan your own travel expenses). Each team can bring up to 3 participants (1 business and 1-2 technical). To nominate your team, please submit the following details to Sanjay Jain or Ashish Jaiman (preferably via your BizSaprk Sponsor). Nominations will be judged according to the strength of the founding team, originality and creativity of the idea, and ability to leverage new and unique Windows 7 features.

Windows 7 Release Dates Announced

2009-07-22T15:23:24Z

Brandon LeBlanc posted the detailed release dates for Windows 7 on The Windows Blog. Below you can find a summary of the information:

For Partners & OEMs download Windows 7 RTM from Microsoft Connect or MSDN on August 6th.

Microsoft Partner Program Gold/Certified Members will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English through the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) Portal on August 16th.

Microsoft Action Pack Subscribers will be about to download Windows 7 RTM in English starting August 23rd.

Volume License (VL) customer with an existing Software Assurance (SA) license you will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English starting August 7th via the Volume License Service Center (VLSC).

IT Professionals with TechNet Subscriptions will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English on August 6th.

Developers with MSDN Subscriptions will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English on August 6th.

There will be an offering of a family pack of Windows 7 Home Premium (in select markets) which will allow installation on up to 3 PCs.

However, if you don’t have TechNet and are waiting for GA (to either purchase Windows 7 or wait for your pre-order to arrive) you can continue to use the RC. In fact, you can continue to use it until it expires on June 1st, 2010 (expiration actually starts March 1, 2010, this is when the reboots start).

More information:

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/07/21/when-will-you-get-windows-7-rtm.aspx

Microsoft Office to go online — for free

2009-07-14T01:50:19Z

For consumers, Microsoft plans to make the browser-based versions of Office 2010 a free part of Windows Live next year, but hasn't decided whether they will include advertising.

The applications run in Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.

More details:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10284280-56.html?tag=newsLeadStoriesArea.1

Silverlight 3 and Blend 3 Released :-)

2009-07-10T23:47:42Z

http://seethelight.com/

Some of the cool new features are:

Perspective 3D
Out of Browser
Validation UI & DataForm
H.264
Navigation Framework
DeepZoom Smooth Streaming*
SaveFileDialog
WriteableBitmap
Pixel Shaders
DropShadow/Blur Built-in Effects
ChildWindow
BasedOn Styles

MultiTouch Input*
ClearType*
Hardware Acceleration
Many New Controls
UI to UI Binding
New REST Networking Stack*
Animation Easing Functions
SEO Optimizations & Deep Linking
ItemsControl UI Virtualization*
Mouse Wheel Support*
Multi-Select ListBox

* Added since Silverlight 3 Beta

Short Flight over VSTS 2010 and “Oslo

2009-06-12T23:31:44Z

I published a short screencast that shows how to define a simple model using the modeling language "M", compile the definition into an Image and install this image into the Repository. After that I show how to use Quadrant to use the defined language.

http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/GLenz/See-Visual-Studio-2010-and-Oslo-in-Action/