I spent the first quarter of this fiscal year working to get hosting partners into our Website Spark program.  For those who don’t know the program is designed to get web developers and designers up and running on the windows platform by offering free software and tools.  You can learn more about the program here:  Website Spark Program.  The program also provides free server licenses which can be acquired through hosting partners.  I wanted to list a few of the hosting partners that I have been working to support the program and the offers they are providing.

http://www.hostwayenterprise.com/bizspark/

http://www.peer1.com/hosting/websitespark.php

http://www.maximumasp.com/msoffer/default.aspx

http://www.appliedi.net/websitespark/

http://www.servepath.com/websitespark/index.php

http://www.newtekwebhosting.com/websitespark.aspx

http://dedicatedhosting.navisite.com/specials/websitespark/

You can also sign up for the program using these providers.

Yahoo Gives In to Microsoft, Gives Up on Search - BusinessWeek

I was really proud to see my city represented on Bing today.  Check it out at Bing.

Bing

Layered Tech Adds Microsoft Server 2008 - Web Hosting Industry News | Daily Web Hosting News and Web Host Interviews

This morning Microsoft launched a worldwide preview of it’s new Bing! search engine.  We have been testing this internally for some time now but I must congratulate the team on their launch.  I am particularly fond of the shopping search.  In fact I used it last week to make a decision on a new digital camera for my girlfriend.  Break the Google habit try bing!.

I know I might be biased but trust me although I work for Microsoft I try to be objective.  You have to love the title of this so call “article/blog” that shows up on Yahoo! Finance.  How do you call something a flop that no one outside of Microsoft has actually seen. 

Microsoft Set To Reveal New Search Engine Flop - Yahoo! Finance

Webware 100 winner: Internet Explorer 8 | Webware100 - CNET

Check out the IIS Smooth Streaming Demo Site.  Smooth Streaming is a Microsoft adaptive streaming technology that is installed as an IIS module.  I allows the server to automatically adjust bit rates and frame rates based upon the clients connection and available bandwidth.  It allows for a seemless experience and alleviates the need for buffering.

Experience Smooth Streaming : The Official Microsoft IIS Site

Check out how Kelley Blue Book utilizes Silverlight and .Net in it’s enhanced Photo Car Finder.  Notice that everything even the slider controls are all build in .Net.  Great Job!!!

Perfect Car Finder - Photo Edition (Beta) - Official Kelley Blue Book Site

This year I worked with HostMySite to offer free hosting on IIS 7 for Students.  It requires that you have .edu email address.  Check it out below and tell me what you think.

HostMySite.com - Dream Spark Hosting

To find out more follow the link:

Microsoft Web Platform

2x + 2 = 10 - Live Search

Many would say it’s about time.  More Info on LiveSide.net.  See post below.

LiveSide - Windows Live news and interviews