Curious blogging...

Abandon hope, all ye who enter here

2009-07-27T04:17:04Z

Consider this Blog abandoned. I’ve moved roles at Microsoft, and initially started deleting the posts here, but as someone just reminded me – probably easier just to post a “Jason doesn’t live here anymore” note.

Curious Blogging will be taking a new life on technet.com as my area is certainly more aligned to Core Infrastructure messaging, so you will soon see me pop back up in a new form (in about 30mins according to the confirmation email) at http://blogs.technet.com/curious_blogging

Cheers,

Jason

Popfly Game Creator: Video Walk-thru

2008-05-08T03:28:10Z

Brilliant video walk-thru of the new Popfly game creator. I think there will be more in depth video tutorials available on the Popfly site soon, but this is a great intro for anyone getting started.

Vista SP1 up to 86% faster - says Australian Personal Computer Magazine

2008-03-05T08:42:33Z

ACP magazine have done a test-case on the RTM (Release To Manufacture) version of SP1 for Vista, and contrary to a lot of the speculation I've been reading in the press to date, guess what - it actually has improved performance! :-)

It is interesting in the article (follow the link), the difference found between a clean built RTM Vista machine that has incremental patches applied (as most of us have done over the last year or so), versus one that is clean built and then has SP1 applied before any other patching. It seems that the more "holistic approach" of the service pack provides a better experience, and cleaner results than the bolt-on nature of patching, which isn't much of a surprise, but it's nice to see someone's finally tested the theory.

Vista SP1 up to 86% faster | APC Magazine

Australian Daylight Savings change planning guides available

2008-02-21T08:58:46Z

This year in Australia, NSW, Vic, ACT, Tas & SA will extend daylight savings times to get all the, historically, varying times across the country in synch. Technet has released planning guides for organisations to provide guidance on preparing the Microsoft platforms they use for the necessary changes.

For information on other recent daylight saving in Australia and New Zealand, click here.

Click here TechNet Australia - Resources for IT Professionals to access the planning guides.

The Iron Maiden Jet

2008-02-20T07:53:00Z

Well I've seen the tour posters around town, but hadn't really considered the implications.

Iron Maiden, the heavy metal band, are currently on a world tour and the tour posters show a Boeing 757 with "Iron Maiden" branded across the fuselage, and a big Mummy (ancient bandaged type, not milk & cookies after school type) on the tail.

Now, I got a kick out of their stuff in the 80's. Who couldn't love "Run to the hills", but little would I have ever suspected I'd find myself all these years later, sitting in the Qantas club in Sydney awaiting a flight to Melbourne last sunny Monday morning, and what is sitting before me on the tarmac, through the soundproof glass - THE IRON MAIDEN JET. Now I'm not one to go in for the cult of celebrity, but hey these guys are heavy metal icons and I'm sitting here looking out at their jet! And to think I don't have any of their stuff on my Zune to put on and make this a complete morning!?! Will have to remedy that...

It's a shame my KJAM can't get a better shot.. That's it in the centre of the shot, just past the Qantas tail...

UPDATE: Thanks to Ron McMahon who has provided a link to a decent picture of it in the comments section... http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/12/23/220533/picture-astraeus-unveils-heavy-metal-757-for-iron-maiden-tour.html

MSI Utility for Application Virtualization (the technology formally known as Softgrid)

2008-02-20T07:48:57Z

I received this update from our local Softgrid specialist back in January, and forgot to take it from "draft" to "publish". Apologies, here's the update:

MSI Utility for Microsoft Application Virtualization

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=37A9E590-4F55-44AC-93E1-36EB63A09240&displaylang=en

The MSI Utility for Microsoft Application Virtualization extends virtual application deployment options when a SoftGrid Virtual Application Server is not available. The MSI Utility enables the distribution of virtual applications without streaming

This release also includes support for Windows 2003 Terminal Services, which had originally been scheduled for January 2008.

SoftGrid 4.1 SP1 HFRU1 Bits

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938497

SoftGrid 4.2 HFRU1 Bits

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941408

Security and protection for Office 2007

2008-02-10T23:18:37Z

An great resource I discovered late on Friday. Some would consider it too technical, but for every one of those there's a rocket-scientist out there who'll consider it too high level.

Provides guidance on planning, configuring and securing your Office 2007 deployment. I wouldn't begin one without running an eye over this valuable document.

Downloadable book: Security and protection for the 2007 Office release

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Refresh candidate now publicly available.

2008-01-15T00:00:00Z

The previous release candidate was available only to around 15,000 beta testers out in the wild, but with the release of the SP1 RC Refresh, it seems to have been opened up to the general public (ie. you, the random punter), to download and install.

There is a warning not to use this release on any primary or mission critical machines, so pick your test box carefully.

I, being one of those daredevil types, may well back my primary laptop up and give it a go sometime this week and report back. I mean, if I'm going to test it, I may as well test it in anger right? I'll be the guinnea pig, and you can all learn from my (potentially doomed?) example. :-P

Be sure to read the instructions at the download site thoroughly before trying this at home kids. Download details: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RC Public Availability Program

Microsoft Application Virtualization (Formerly SoftGrid) 4.5 Beta Trial Guide is Now Available!

2008-01-14T16:09:09Z

Our local Microsoft Desktop Optimisation Pack (MDOP) expert, Leon, provided this notification this morning. I hadn't realised we weren't calling it Softgrid anymore?!!?:

The Trial Guide for Microsoft App Virt has been posted to the web at the following link: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=AA787491-8D08-4D2F-8960-9E9F00226C7E&displaylang=en.

This guide is based on the Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 beta and walks the user through utilizing the entire platform including some of the key new features. Scenarios include:

· Setting up a full management system for streaming delivery

· Combining that system with the streaming server

· Utilizing standalone mode with the MSI capabilities

· Sequencing two applications and delivering them across all of the mechanisms above.

Please use this link as it includes the instructions to get the beta from Microsoft Connect and then set it up for a useful test environment.

iPhone Trojan in the wild: created by an 11 year old?

2008-01-10T02:32:00Z

Interesting news published in Aussie ZDNet this morning, and after supposedly flying under the malicious code radar for some time, many would say - Welcome to the big-league. I guess you know you're really gaining some market share when people start writing malicious code and exploits for your systems - although it would seem in this case, it was perhaps accidental?

Whilst the exploit is apparently a fairly innocuous little number, the attempted removal of it from iPhone's might cause more problems than the code itself.

According to research company F-Secure, the code was created by an 11 year old playing with XML. And that's all I have to say about that.... (as Forrest Gump put it so eloquently).

iPhone Trojan discovered in the wild: News - Security - ZDNet Australia

No TV coverage of the 2nd Test? Watch the Cricket "Virtual-3D" live coverage...

2008-01-04T07:20:36Z

Can't get TV coverage of the 2nd Test between Australia and India at the SCG today? Well, Cricinfo have a 3D-Virtual interface, showing ball-by-ball "live-replays" of current cricket matches. "Live" coverage probably subject to the delay it takes to enter the information the engine then represents.

There are various viewing angles from the master, to umpire-cam, wicket keeper, or mid-wicket. You name it. Only issue I can see is the master view seems to stay focused on the pitch in the centre, so you can't see were the ball has been hit, or the fielding, unless you view it from the batsman's angle.

Also allows you to watch just the wickets taken, or boundaries hit. Certainly some novelty value here (if you've got the bandwidth).

Not sure I could watch a whole day's play on it. Will more likely use the ABC's streaming media of the radio coverage. ABC Grandstand

Cricinfo - 3D

Microsoft Presents: It's Not Cheating

2008-01-04T03:05:56Z

This is an absolutely astounding offer.

Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 for AUD $75 perpetual, or $25 for a 1 year licence!

Available only to Australian Uni or Tafe students. The cheapest I found Office Ultimate retail locally was $999, or $845 for the upgrade version.

If you know any Aussie students out there, let them know about this one. To qualify all you need is a valid email address from an academic institution in Australia.

There's also some international deals available under the "ultimate steal" banner... check the international flags on the Australian site.

Microsoft Presents: It's Not Cheating

Using Windows Live Writer for Blogging

2008-01-03T18:49:32Z

Well, I discovered Windows Live Writer as a free download, and thought I'd give it a shot. It's supposedly a tool for "power-blogger's", and considering I've never had one that's lasted more than a couple of days of curious interest, it'll be interesting to see how it goes. The Live Writer Team Blog is available also.

Thanks to David McGhee, fellow ATS, who peaked my interest in blogging again.

Considering no other attempted blog I've done over the years has lasted for more than a week, it'll be interesting (or boring if this is my one and only post, per usual).

Does anyone read these things.. is anybody out there... alone in the universe and out of shake-n-vac..