| Come and get an overview of the new features and capabilities of Internet Explorer 8. IE8 has plenty of exciting new features for web developers, consumers and IT Professionals. Leading the charge is a brand new rendering engine engineered from the ground up that renders websites stringently using today's web standards. We will introduce you to this new engine along with Web Slices and Activities. We will then demonstrate for the first time features added after the first public beta of Internet Explorer 8! Presented by Matt Heller from Microsoft US. Click here for more information. |
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Christchurch 8th September: 2pm
Christchurch Convention Centre
RegisterWellington 10th September: 2pm - Sold Out
Microsoft Wellington
Wellington Session 2 10th September: 3.30pm
Microsoft Wellington
RegisterAuckland 12th September: 11am
Microsoft Auckland
Register
Why Aren't You Taking Part In Imagine Cup 2009??
Want to get a chance to go to Cairo, Egypt all expenses paid for?
The Imagine Cup is a global student technology competition focused on finding solutions to real-world issues. Here is your chance to tackle the toughest problems facing the world today, apply the latest technologies, network with the IT industry as well as win great prizes including an all expenses paid trip to Cairo, Egypt next year!
New Zealand sent the winning team from Canterbury University earlier this year to Paris (
check out the photos and write up on www.imaginecup.co.nz) and we would like to see your team going to Egypt next year.
The theme of this competition is
“Creating technology that solves the toughest problems we face today”. The Imagine Cup Organisers have made the theme more general to allow more students to take part in this competition and have fixed this theme for the next three years. This also encourages more students to take part in that students can enter with the same project over the next three years, building on it, refining it etc.
The competition is not about winning,
but the opportunity for students to network with the industry, their chance to get their foot in the door, learn valuable skills and an opportunity for IT companies to see the talent that’s coming out of our tertiary institutes. You are given the opportunity to compete in the Software Design Challenge in a team with a maximum of 3 of your mates.
You are provided with an industry mentor to develop an idea that could solve the toughest problems we face today. It’s your time to make a difference while at the same time walking away with some cool prizes and learning valuable business and IT skills.
- Registration for the competition closes March 2009, register before mid September and go into the draw to win 1 of 10 software/hardware price pack even if you do not win
- Individuals who are interested can register – NZ Imagine Cup Admin team will put them in a team
- You don’t need to be a hardcore programmer – teams are usually built up with students of different skills, presenter, coder, marketer etc.
- What happens if you don’t know anything about Microsoft Technologies, there are plans to have workshops and get industry mentors to come and teach students the basics of what they need to know to meet the requirements of the competition.
- You can find detailed information on last year’s projects on our local Imagine Cup Site : http://www.microsoft.com/nz/imaginecup09/resources.aspx#2008projects
- Students that register on Imagine Cup get access to e-learning Microsoft Courses to help them prepare for project work
- Each team has an academic mentor that they find, academic mentors can coach more than one team
- Students can use the same project entry in 2009 in future Imagine Cup competitions
- Competition presentations start in April 2009
- Proposal for projects need to be submitted by the end of 2008
- NZ Imagine Cup Admin team will communicate with all registrants by mid September and start working with teams in assigning mentors beginning end of September.
- Imagine Cup has 7 other categories – students can compete in these, but compete online with teams across the world. i.e. Photography, Short Film, Gaming, Embedded, Robotics.
- Find out more here: www.imaginecup.co.nz , register for the Imagine Cup before mid September and go in the draw to win 1 of 10 software/hardware prize packs.
Get Ready for Imagine Cup 2009
What Happened at the 2008 World Wide Imagine Cup Finals
Office Home and Student 2007- now at a hot new price! Only $169*
Microsoft Office Home and Student is the essential software suite for tertiary students, enabling you to quickly and easily create great-looking documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, and organise your notes and information in one place. With Office Home and Student 2007 you get what you need for all your university work through four fantastic Office 2007 products- Office 2007, Excel 2007, PowerPoint 2007, and OneNote 2007.
At the
hot new price of $169*, you can be sure this will be a popular offer so get to you local participating retailer and purchase today!
Check out the Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 site for more information.*Recommended promotional retail price for fully packaged product versions. The price you actually pay will be determined by the retailer.
Dreamspark IS Now Available In NZ - Developer/Designer Software Free For Tertiary Students
Microsoft Dreamspark: NZ students can have free access to Professional Developer and Designer Software.
New Zealand students have the opportunity to access genuine, professional-level Microsoft software at no cost! Dreamspark aims to empower all tertiary students to expand their skills and knowledge with technology. Students interested in technology, looking to get into a career in IT, or just wanting to try it out can get their hands on Microsoft Developer and Designer software.
Students will need to verify they are enrolled at a recognised tertiary institution to access Dreamspark. Microsoft will be working together with New Zealand tertiary institutions over the next six months to set up the Dreamspark programme. Most large institutions will look at launching the programme on campus in 2009.
However students who want to start taking benefit of this new initiative now, can!! Dreamspark has aligned with the ISIC Card (International Student Identity Card ) to give any student instant access to the software. The ISIC Card is a global student card that provides a range of benefits from discounted travel to cheap student deals. All students need to do is purchase a card ($20/year) and use the membership number to gain access to the Dreamspark site as depicted below, IT'S THAT EASY!!
Go To
Dreamspark Site
Click Get Started
Select The Software You Want
Sign In Using Your Windows Live ID
Select Your Region, Country And Type of Verification (ISIC)
Finally Punch In Your ISIC Membership Number And Your On Your WAY!!!
Mentoring by an IT Professional – Imagine Cup – Software Design Challenge
The Imagine Cup is a global student technology competition focused on finding solutions to real-world issues. Here is your chance to tackle the toughest problems facing the world today, apply the latest technologies, network with the IT industry as well as win great prizes including an all expenses paid trip to Cairo, Egypt next year!
You are given the opportunity to compete in the Software Design Challenge in a team with a maximum of 3 of your mates. You are provided with an industry mentor to develop an idea that could solve the toughest problems we face today. It’s your time to make a difference while at the same time walking away with some cool prizes and learning valuable business and IT skills.
Find out more here:
www.microsoft.co.nz/imaginecup,
register for the Imagine Cup before mid September and go in the draw to win 1 of 10 software/hardware prize packs.
Imagine Cup 2009 - It Has Begun
Get ready and fired up for the 2009 Imagine Cup Competition, registrations are now open, register before the 15th of September and go in the draw to win one of 10 software/hardware prize packs. Check out more details on our NZ imagine cup site:
www.microsoft.co.nz/imaginecup
Boat Cruise on Day 4
Day 4 finished with a boat cruise along the main river in Paris, a great way to finish the day with a relaxing ride viewing some of the main attractions. The boat cruise also provided another French dining experience with tiny delights and also a big dance party on the boat that continued late into the night.
Day 4 - Time to Enjoy Paris
On day 4 of the Imagine Cup World Wide Finals, students, and media and Microsoft employees had the opportunity to have a day off and go and tour Paris.
Each individual was provided with an all day pass for the metro, bus and boat and provided with maps, and a guide to take them on a day tour of their choice.
It was a great way to experience Paris, giving students full control of what they want to do for the day. Some options considered were the Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triumph, The Louvre, and many other amazing places.
Top Six Teams Announced
After a gruelling second round for the top 12 teams, the top 6 teams were announced on the morning of the 4th Day. From the batch of 12 teams – the 6 that move onto the next round are...
- Australia – SOAK (Smart Operational Agricultural toolKit) Team members: David Burela, Dimaz Pramudya, Ed Hooper, Long Zheng
- Brazil – Ecologix
Team Members: Carlos Eduardo Rodrigues, Eduardo Sonnino, Renato Ferreria, Roberto Sonnino
- China – UniqueStudio
Team Members: Jing Pan, Yang Liu, Haojian Jin, Zhou Y
- Croatia – The Wall of Balance
Team Members: Ivan Maček, Jure Maleš, Marko Matijević, Berislav Tomašić
- Hungary - Digital Mania
Team Members: Ákos Kapui, Laszló Zöld, Bálint Orosz, Gergely Orosz
- Portugal – (void*)
Team Members: André Sousa, Marco Barbosa, Martinha Rocha, José Faria
- Slovakia - Housekeepers
Team Members: Marián Hönsch, Michal Kompan, Jakub Šimko, Dušan Zeleník
Finalists Announced on Day 3 of the Imagine Cup World Wide Competition
A very excited group of students from all over the world gathered to hear the news they had been waiting for the past 12 months. The top 12 teams that will move onto the the next round in the Software Design Challenge.
The 12 teams moving onto the next round are...
- Australia – SOAK (Smart Operational Agricultural toolKit) Team members: David Burela, Dimaz Pramudya, Ed Hooper, Long Zheng
- Brazil – Ecologix
Team Members: Carlos Eduardo Rodrigues, Eduardo Sonnino, Renato Ferreria, Roberto Sonnino
- China – UniqueStudio
Team Members: Jing Pan, Yang Liu, Haojian Jin, Zhou Y
- Croatia – The Wall of Balance
Team Members: Ivan Maček, Jure Maleš, Marko Matijević, Berislav Tomašić
- France – Well K’Home
Team Members: Regis Hanol, Gauthier Chanlieau, Sebastien Warin, Jean-Noel Gauthier
- Hungary - Digital Mania
Team Members: Ákos Kapui, Laszló Zöld, Bálint Orosz, Gergely Orosz
- Korea – Tree Talk
Team Members: Han-Wook Lee, Dong-Suv Lee, Man-Suk Ho
- Portugal – (void*)
Team Members: André Sousa, Marco Barbosa, Martinha Rocha, José Faria
- Russia – Ignition
Team Members: Anatoly Nikitin, Roman Belov, Daria Elkina
- Singapore – MamaGaia
Team Members: Yang Lin Ko, Ryan Chia, Phyo Myat Thu, Alicia Tay
- Slovakia - Housekeepers
Team Members: Marián Hönsch, Michal Kompan, Jakub Šimko, Dušan Zeleník
- South Africa – Smile
Team Members: Devin de Vries, Christopher King, Nabeel Nazeer, Nadeem Isaacs
It was a close race for the New Zealand team with many judges showing their support and coming up and congratulating the team. The team can know relax and enjoy what France has to offer, they still have one final chance at the Innovation Accelator Challenge which will happen on the last day of the competition.
Now We Wait For The Big News...
The second presentation held on the
third day of the IC WW Finals went off without a hitch. The guys did an amazing job, slicker then slick. From the dramatic intro, to the flawless demo right down to the final last words, it all went off brilliantly.
The judges in this round were very impressed, interested more on the business model and how the team plan to put this project into action.
The team now will have to wait till 4.30pm Paris time, another 1.5hours before they find out if they make it to the next round. Only 12 teams will go through to the next round and in return they will need to get ready to present again from 6-8pm to qualify for the top 6 teams in the world.
Till then, all teams have an opportunity to showcase their project to media and press from all over the world, waiting in anticipation of the big news. Good Luck Team Phoenix.
Presentation Time!!
Day 2(yesterday) of the Imagine Cup World Wide Finals, presentations slots had been scheduled for each team. Each Team will present twice over two days to two sets of judges. The results will then be collated and the best 12 of the Software Design Challenge will move on to round two.
Team Phoneix were the last team to present on the first day of presentations, there was a lot of tension and excitement as the team prepared to whoo the judges about their exciting revolutionary project.
The teams spent the hour prior to their kick off sipping red bull and miming their parts of the presentation, also testing the demo multiple times with 100% success rate.
The time came for their presentation - 9.30pm Paris time - which is about 7.30am NZ time Saturday morning. The judges look excited as they walked into the presentation room. The team were under pressure to set their laptops and connections up, with only minutes to kick off, the demo decided that it won't work this time. So with seconds to spare the team had no chance to rectify the issue and had to work with a non-working demo.
The team did a great job, with a slick presentation, connecting with the judges and inspiring them about the impact their project will have on society. Then came the tough questions, and it was tough, according to the team, the toughest they have faced to date.
The judges left the room with kind emotions and positive feelings of the group. One down and the second one awaits at 2.30pm today, the final chance to make their mark!!
The day was also marked with further excitement, with the entire venue having multiple power shut downs during team presentations.
Want to see more on the WW Finals?
