Adventures In SoftwareLand : Independent Innovation

Back from the shadows again!...

Michael Lehman — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:44:00 GMT

Unlike the plan which I had in place, I've been silent for the past two months going heads-down on a new project. It's been a major push and I'm happy to say it's nearing an end as it will be unveiled next Monday, November 5th, at the Microsoft TechEd : Developers conference in Barcelona, Spain.

Before that happens, I'm at the 7th annual European Shareware Conference, being held in Cologne, Germany, where I'll be speaking on a panel discussion Saturday morning at 9:00 AM and giving an talk about independent innovation on Sunday morning at 10:00 AM.

If you are a MicroISV @ ESWC, I'd love to spend 5-10 minutes with you and highlight you and your products. Ask any of the conference organizers or use the email link and we'll plan a time for an interview.

Meanwhile... stay tuned for a major announcement on Monday!

Gnomedex 2007 - from a Microsoft perspective

Michael Lehman — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 18:56:00 GMT

I have written a few posts hilighting the Gnomedex 2007 experience on my new personal blog over at www.independentinnovation.net.

However, from a Microsoft perspective, I find it interesting that, although we're a sponsor, and the great party last night at the Seattle Aquarium was sponsored by http://maps.live.com, we seem to have little visible presence at this years conclave. True, our logo is on the slideshow shown between speakers but one of the first things you encounter after the registraiton desk this year is the Google booth! They're both recruiting and giving away free signups to GrandCentral.

I'm off to immerse myself in Day 2 and we'll see what happens there. I'm especially looking forward to Stewart Allen's talk about alternative and soon-to-be-available renewable energy sources.

Off to Gnomedex 2007!

Michael Lehman — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:50:00 GMT

Headed down later this morning to Gnomedex 2007! If you're going to be there look me up and we can do a podcast.

MicroISVs on the "Seat of Heat"... First part of SIC 2007 videos now live on Channel9

Michael Lehman — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 17:59:00 GMT

At the Software Industry Conference 2007, I got more than a dozen MicroISVs to sit in the "seat of heat" and do a brief video interview.

The first part of these interviews is now live on Channel9! Enjoy.

Software Industry Conference 2007 - lots of new faces

Michael Lehman — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 19:43:00 GMT

The Software Industry Conference 2007 just opened this morning here in Denver, Colorado and, according to the organizers, 80% of the attendees are new attendees (as opposed to people who attended this event in previous years).

I've been saying on this blog, and around Microsoft, for the past few years that the number of MicroISVs is growing and this is a great indicator of just that phenomenon.

I'm giving two talks, one tomorrow about podcasting and one on Saturday about Independent Innovation.

I also still have openings in my schedule for podcast interviews if you're here at SIC and want to get on Channel9. Just click on the email link and drop me a line or find me around the show.

Office Interactive Developer Map: A Very Cool WPF Application

Michael Lehman — Wed, 30 May 2007 21:21:00 GMT

You've got to check out the Microsoft Office Interactive Developer Map and it's write up on the Sharepoint Products and Technologies Team Blog.

This Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) application allows you to drill down to each product and technology and learn about new features, objects, Web services, namespaces, and schemas required to extend Microsoft Office and build custom Office Business Applications (OBAs).

If you've ever thought a building an application that involves Office integration you need this tool!

Gavin Bowman's Obligatory Blog aggregates MicroISV news

Michael Lehman — Wed, 30 May 2007 20:20:00 GMT

Gavin Bowman, proprietor of V4 Solutions, writes what he calls the "Obligatory Blog" (he says: These days if you run a software company, you have to have a Blog. This is mine).

Gavin is a MicroISV and subject of my first interview on The MicroISV Show, who now has a second product, congratulations!

On his blog, he does a weekly chronicle of doings in the MicroISV space under the headings of: News and Announcements, Relevant Blog Posts and Articles and Further (mostly relevant) Reading.

If you're a MicroISV, or want to be one, check out Gavin's Obligatory Blog regularly.

Launching The Independent Innovation Blog

Michael Lehman — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 19:41:00 GMT

IndependentInnovation.net - My new blog and podcast.

Independent Innovation is a new meme that is rapidly changing the work and personal lives of millions of people around the globe as the Internet and widespread adoption of broadband technology is enabling individuals and small groups to create new self-funded, live-anywhere, sustainable lifestyle companies that delivering their digital intellectual property (digita IP) products via the Internet.

I have been wanting for a while to expand my view beyond just MicroISVs to complement the work I do here at Microsoft and so I have just launched a new blog and podcast over at www.independentinnovation.net and invite all my Adventures In SoftwareLand readers to surf on over and check it out.

Most MicroISVs are Independent Innovators and so the site will feature frequent interviews and topics of interest to MicroISVs. In my experience most developers, no matter where and how they work, are also artistic in one sense or another (mostly musical) and you'll also find many interesting topics related to distribution and protection of digital IP of other forms over at IndependentInnovation.net as well.

On the new site I will be commenting about trends in the Independent Innovation space, interviewing both Indepdent Innovators and those who provide products and services to them as well as hosting guest blog posts by some of the thought leaders who are pointing the way to this new way of working and living.