Microsoft Australia's Rog42

Twitter for those who still don't get it

I've blogged about Twitter before, and usually wouldn't go on about it. But two observations this week:

• The only people who keep talking about how they "don't get Twitter" or "don't see the value in it" are those whom haven't used it.
• A cool presentation from Josh Holmes' blog explaining some of the benefits of Twitter

To the first observation:

An analogue in a previous life is an experience about those who "don't get scuba diving" Essentially, your body has told you you cannot breathe underwater for your entire life. Until you actually go underwater and breathe freely without limitation, you will experience any number of difficulties, fears, and inhibitions. But when you do, new possibilities are opened up, new vistas, and amazing new experiences.

Until you have experienced the freedom, and overcome your fear, you cannot conceive of the things you'll enjoy.

Twitter is like that.

For your entire life your mind has told you that you can't be in constant contact with people whom are separated by time and distance. In recent years, mobile phones, email, and even blogs have changed that. But still these are crude methods, that tend to connect with rational/logical thoughts. Yes, you can send an SMS to someone you're close to, but even then that's only with one person, and only infrequently, or in response to a conversation.

Well Twitter allows for a more emotional connection, frequently, to as many people as you wish to follow. Simply, it adds an emotional depth to your connections that wasn't possible before. But like diving, until you get into the pool, stick the reg in your mouth, and put your head underwater, you cannot understand the possibilities that will be enabled.

To the second observation - thanks Josh:

Like diving, if you don't want to try it, that's OK! But don't tell me what a waste of time it is, or you can't understand why people would try something so frivolous, until you've experienced it for yourself.

R42

SWMUG May 2008

What a great meeting of minds last night at SWMUG. Er, that's the Sydney Windows Mobile Usergroup to the uninitiated.

We kicked off with a segment on Microsoft and Mobile News from April. I seriously thought that this would be a 5 min segment summarising perhaps 4 or 5 happenings over the last month or so. Instead 30 mins, and 15 items later we moved onto our guest speakers.

So some of the things that have been happening in the last month or so:

• Yahoo! - SteveB withdrew the offer for Yahoo! after some 3 months of negotiation.
• The HTC Shift has been released in Australia
• Today was Jon, our fearless leader's, birthday. He's looking forward to now being old enough to drink alcohol
• HTC announced their new Diamond device.
• The MSPress Bookshop went live in Australia. www.mspress.com.au Usergroup members get 50% discount on all MSPRess titles. Remember you get speedy delivery on these titles from the Sydney warehouse.
• The iPhone will be released this June. Optus (& I believe Vodafone) has won this contract from Apple.
• An MS Forum for mobility has been started. We're sketchy on details, and will report back.
• Redfly was announced.
• Android the Google Open Source platform for Mobile Phones was released a little more than a month ago. Yet some developers have ported a limited functionality OS onto the HTC TyTN II.
• Fring was launched. This is a multi-chat client application which runs on most Mobile Phones. The most popular use for this is as a mobile front-end to Skype.
• ReMIX, the Australian delivery of the MIX Conference was announced. This will take place on 20 May in Sydney (SOLD OUT) and 22 May in Melbourne (ALMOST SOLD OUT). MIX is a conference for web developers and designers.
• PointUI, a presentation layer for Windows Mobile 5 or 6 devices, was released. This is very performant, and gives a great experience similar to the "TouchFLO"TM found on the HTC Touch and Touch Dual Devices.
• CodeCampOz, the annual community driven developer conference, took place in Wagga Wagga over the ANZAC day week-end. SQL and Security CodeCamps will take place on the October Long Week-end.
• Sony announced their "Water Batteries." Again sketchy details, probably to do with Fuel Cells, we'll get back to you with details and links etc.
• And finally Microsoft released the Tech Preview for Live Mesh. www.mesh.com This is a visionary move to the Software + Services world, currently providing synchronised folders, but with huge promise to connect all of your computing and other devices (e.g. Photoframes, cameras, mobile phones, GPS's, media players, even appliances?)

So after a rowdy, and enthusiastic discussion on all these issues, we moved onto Rick Anderson, MS Mobile Solution Specialist, demonstrating how to use SOTI Remote Control, both to control the device and maintain the ability to connect to the network. Unfortunately technical issues ensued, so we diverted to a discussion about Twitter, and possible uses for this great technology.

Note: By the end of the evening, 4 more people had signed up to Twitter and started to follow Rog42 - w00t!

We decided to move onto our next guest speaker, who brought us the delights of SOTI MobiControl Manager. This is a great little app, very powerful, and aimed squarely at the SMB market. If you run the IT for a small to medium business, and have to manage a fleet of mobile devices, it would be worth taking a look at this application.

Next up we had AJ from Asus present on the upcoming ASUS P750 Lamborghini device. Very sexy:

Then Rick got his demo working - whew - and did a great little demo on SOTI Remote Control. This is such a powerful tool for anyone developing, consulting, or presenting on their Windows Mobile Device.

After all of these great presentations, a greater hunger came over the crowd, so we moved next door for the monthly feed. Pizza, mmmm!! (i.e. for everyone not trying to lose weight like me)

More photos can be found on our SWMUG Facebook Group Site.

After the feed, we returned for the monthly giveaway, amidst much cheering and jeering our "random" winners. (They are randomly picked by Chris Anderson's Mobile Prize Winner app - honest 'guv)

And just before we left, James McCutcheon gave an appeal to sponsor him walking the Kakoda Trail for Camp Quality. With only $100 from his IT contacts, we've a lot of ground to make up. So get out there and sign up....

Our next meeting will be on May 20, and for those in remote places, or whom can't make it, we'll be hosting a LiveMeeting.

Note, if you do use Twitter, follow @hashtags, you can get the summary conversations by searching on #swmug at http://www.hashtags.org/tag/swmug/

R42

Popfly Game Creator - This is awesome

I've seen sites where you can create your own games. Of course there's also the XNA Game Studio where you can create games for both the XBox and the PC. But with the Popfly Game Creator, people of all ages will be able to create their very own webgames, with just a touch of imagination, and not a line of code (unless they really want to)

Check out the tutorial:

What I love about this is the lowering of the barriers to entry in using technology. You're a maths teacher? Create an online game all your students can play instead of boring homework. You're an english teacher? Create your own storyboard. Perhaps you're a retailer, is there a way you can create your own social community, compelled to increase brand awareness by playing a relevant game of your creation?

I really do think there are benefits here for all groups and organisations. But you don't have to be a developer, just someone with a great idea, a little imagination, and some application.

R42

MS Biggest Loser - Under the Ton!!!

Week #2 in our "blackout" period, designed to increase the surprise of the Grand Finale in 2 weeks time. Even so I can't help but declare this week's weigh-in. Y'see I'm "under the ton!" I've hit my first goal, that of getting under 100kg.

This morning I had a "Goals Session" with my personal training, and smashed all of my goals: Weight, Blood Pressure, Pushups, Flexibility, Measurements (10cm off my chest) and the "dreaded" beep test.

Another 2 weeks then to see whether my consistent, and slow but steady loss, will conquer the massive, but ad hoc losses of the others.

Happy though...

R42

Now we're talking

Not piddly GPRS 2.5G, not 3G, not even HSDPA (or HSUPA) Next/3.5G - no, we're talking true blue 4G Networks.

Nothing yet, but the initial agreement with partners (Nokia, SonyEricsson and Alcatel to be precise) to get things off the ground.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7348706.stm

Is it the networks we really need? Or open developer frameworks where the so-called Operator based "walled gardens" disappear?

R42

MS Biggest Loser - Weigh in Wk 12

Ok so this week it's "mum's the word" I can't divulge what I've actually lost, because then my competitors will know if I'm catching up or not.

I can say that I've lost weight again, and that it lies in the range between 0.5 and 1.5kgs :)

Nuff said, still losing, anyone's game.

R42

Heard of Silverlight - beware the addiction

Just caught this great vid on On10.net, courtesy of the Delic8Genius for those addicted to Silverlight development.

Welcome to Rehab.

http://on10.net/blogs/tina/Silverlight-Rehab/

R42

Tag

Catching up on my blogging, I noticed a comment on my blog about the Mobility Smackdown planning for TechEd08, from Bronwyn Zander at Soul Solutions "Tagging" me.

So what exactly is this "tagging," well an Internet era chain mail. Here are the rules:

1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

My random facts then:

1. IT may not pay, I earned less for migrating a Windows 3.11 PC from German to English in Antigua, than for cleaning the hull of a yacht.
2. I once appeared on the front page of Port Elizabeth's top newspaper. My claim to fame: Treating 4 motorbike accident victims as a 14 yr old scout.
3. My wife, Lucy, and I got engaged on our first date.
4. My first PDA was a USRobotics Palm Pilot Professional with a whole 1MB of RAM.
5. I first earned money in IT programming in COBOL for a Life Assurance company. Still earning, but not in COBOL.
6. Things seem to come in 3s. I am the citizen of 3 countries, and technically have had 3 fathers and 3 mothers. But yes, only one of each at birth.
7. One Tuesday night a month you'll catch me at Sydney Windows Mobile Usergroup, where I've been a member since helping found the group in January 2002.
8. On Sunday mornings you can often find me playing my guitar at Carlingford Baptist Church.

The eight people I'm tagging include:

• Johann Kruse (Everything Unified Communications)
• Christian Longstaff (Willing to Partner)
• Anthony Borton (VSTS and TFS MVP & Guru)
• Craig Bailey (Leader of the Sydney Business Technology Usergroup and all round .NET guru)
• Laurel Papworth (A.k.a SilkCharm on Social Networks)
• Clark Boyd (The World's Tech Podcast)
• Leigh Cresswell (Blogs about Interns at Microsoft)
• Catherine Eibner (Another Geek Girl and CRM guru)

R42

MS Biggest Loser - Wk 11

Just ONE WEEK TO GO!!! This week I lost a respectable 1.2kgs, which puts me in shouting distance (but probably not close enough) to the money.

You can see from this chart that the two most likely to win are within 1% of each other, and I'm 2.9% off that mark. Still, take careful note of who's line as not gone up once ...

(Hint: It's the blue one :))

I'm also pretty chuffed that on my (notoriously over-reading) scales, I weighed in at 100.9kgs this week. Just under a kilo to get under the "ton."

So still a ways from my goal weights, but definitely on track.

Thanks to everyone for your encouragement, with a special call out to one of my team members for sacrificially eating all the cakes and desserts I've been offered over the last 11 weeks.

Any help and encouragement for this final week will be most welcome.

R42

It's a great time to belong to a Usergroup

Boy do we have some offers for Usergroups right now!!!

You've already read about the Demo's Happen {Here} Competition, but there's so much more...

Firstly, we're running a special offer on MSPress Books. Once the new MSPress site goes live, all Usergroup Members will receive 30% discount on MSPress Books for 30 days.

Even after 30 days, Usergroup Members will receive 20% discount for the rest of the year.

Secondly, we're running a Certification Competition. The first 100 Usergroup Members who pass an MCP Certification exam (any MCP) by 31 May 2008, will receive a voucher to take their next exam for free. That's $180 value.

Additionally, the Usergroup with the most certifications taken between now and 31 May 2008, will receive a hamper worth $3000 for their Usergroup.

Live Meeting

All Usergroup Leaders can get a free Live Meeting account. This is huge, it means that they can host a Usergroup Meeting using Live Meeting at no cost.

Members can attend remotely, presentations can be recorded and viewed later, and all for free.

I don't belong to a Usergroup, why should I?

If you work with Information Technology, and want to increase your skill, becoming a member of a usergroup is a great idea! You'll meet like-minded people, learn from some amazing presentations, and get inside info on the latest technologies. Plus discount on the best resources.

Where can you find out about Usergroups? Check out our interactive map here.

What if there isn't a Usergroup in your area based on the technology you work with? Some options:

• Start your own usergroup. I'm working with enthusiasts in Wagga Wagga to start their own Usergroup in the next while, and it's easier than you may think.
• Attend a group which discusses a similar technology (e.g. you're a Sharepoint Developer, join a .NET Usergroup) and become involved. You may find other like minded members who want to form their own subgroup or chapter.
• See if you can attend a group from another town via Live Meeting. Note: You don't need a paid account to join a livemeeting, just to download the free client.
• Contact your local Microsoft Evangelist, or me, we'd love to help and get you connected.

R42

Demo's Happen {Here}

Are you worthy of the title Australian Demo God 2008?

Do you have what it takes to demonstrate complex technical techniques simply, efficiently, enthusiastically?

Do you want to be celebrated for your technical prowess at TechEd08 in Sydney later this year?

Are you confident enough to win an all expenses paid trip to TechEd09 in Los Angeles?

Then you may be just the person we're looking for:

From 1 April (yes I know that was on Tuesday) until 31 July, we're running the Demo's Happen {Here} Competition as part of the Heroes Happens {Community} Launch.

Full terms and conditions are available upon request, simply email OzHero08 or download them from the Community Tab on the Australian Heroes Happens {2008} Website.

But briefly here's how you enter:

• Demonstrate one (or more) of the Launch Technologies: i.e. Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008, SQL Server 2008 in your Community Group
• Video this demonstration using a web cam, Live Meeting, a video camera, or a screen capturing utility (e.g. Camtasia)
• Upload your video to http://silverlight.live.com
• Register your demonstration, with a link to the uploaded video at the Heroes Happens {2008} Website
• Check out all your competition, not to mention the cool videos of other demos (for inspiration) at the
Heroes Happens {2008} website

You have two ways of getting to the State Finals:

• Your Community Group can nominate you as the best demo god of the group, and your leader will register you as the entrant.
• For Community Groups that haven't submitted enough demos (at least 3 from at least 2 different entrants) or because we just think you're that great, Microsoft judges will nominate up to 30 wild card entries to the State Finals

Besides great prizes for being nominated, the winners of the State Finals get all expenses trips to Sydney to participate in the National Finals at TechEd08.

This Grand Final will take place in front of the audience at TechEd08, and the national winner will be crowned Australian Demo God 2008. Their prize includes an all expenses paid trip to TechEd09 in Los Angeles next year.

Other prizes include: Bluetooth USB Presenter Mice, Media Centre Extenders with DVD Players, Subscriptions to MSDN etc.

So by now you are raring to go, and have heaps of questions:

What is my Community Group?

Simply put any IT Usergroup, University Computer Club, Corporate Internal Community of Practice, lunchtime meeting at a MCT training centre, Special Interest Group of the ACS, or any group where like minded geeks meet to boast

Where can I get content to demonstrate, like Virtual Machines, software etc?

Speak to your Community Group Leader. We have distributed over two hundred 80GB USB HDD's packed with content for them to share with you.

Is the quality of the video important?

Nope, a webcam or even mobile phone video will do just fine. We're looking for quality of demonstration, not video. State nominees will be demonstrating to a live audience at the State Finals.

Can I enter more than once?

Yes, but not with the same demo.

What about other technologies? Other than Microsoft even?

Absolutely!! As long as your demo contains just one of the launch technologies, you're eligible. You're welcome to demonstrate multiple launch technologies in the same demo, or integrate with other Microsoft technologies (e.g. Windows Mobile, or Sharepoint Portal Server) or even better show us how you can get PHP running on IIS7 or Linux machines connecting via NAP into Active Directory.

Remember, keep it short, keep it compelling, but don't limit yourself.

How will my demo be judged?

We really want this to be a community based event. So each group is free to judge demo's at their discretion. However, we do have judging criteria which will be used for all wildcard entries, as well as at the State and National Finals.

Anyone can get a copy of these criteria by emailing OzHero08. We recommend that Community Groups use these to help them judge the best demo objectively.

Where can I get help?

Speak to your Community Group leaders, email OzHero08, speak to your local Microsoft Evangelist, or if all else fails, email me directly. We've loads of resources, and people who are more than happy to work with you to get a demo up and successful.

When can I start?

Last Tuesday :)

However, please note that the Competition Guidelines, Terms and Conditions, and registration website will be going live over the week-end. Still, if you have a video of you demoing a launch technology, that's less than 10 mins, then get it uploaded to http://silverlight.live.com in the meantime.

The only thing left to ask is if you have what it takes? Are you the Australian Demo God of 2008?

R42

So much to Blog

... so little time.

First I must comment on a change I've made to clarify and simplify things for readers of my blogs.

Many of you, faithful readers, know that I run two blogs:

http://blogs.msdn.com/rog42 which covers all of my work entries.

http://blog.rog42.net which until today has covered everything about my life, my family, personal opinions, photo's. As this blog has had a greater and longer readership, I've posted work related entries to this blog as well.

This has led to a couple of challenges:

• For those subscribing to both of my blogs, they've received duplicate entries.
• For new subscribers it's been confusing as to which is the best blog to read.

So I've made a decision and put in place a plan to simplify this for all my readers. It works like so:

If you read either of my blogs in a web browser, you need to navigate to either of the addresses above. However, the MSDN blog will only have work related entries, and the Spaces blog will only contain personal entries.

If you subscribe using an RSS reader (the best way to automatically receive blogs) you can choose one of three options:

1. To get a single, merged feed of work, personal, and my Flickr photos, subscribe to http://feeds.feedburner.com/Rog42
2. To get just work related entries, subscribe to http://blogs.msdn.com/rog42/rss.xml
3. To get just personal entries, subscribe to http://rog42.spaces.live.com/feed.rss

So no more duplicate entries, no more technical mumbo-jumbo for mum, and just one link to get the full Life and Times of Rog42.

This will be the last entry appearing in both blogs.

Note: The merged feed will contain duplicate entries of the last month or so. These should disappear as time progresses (or you hit delete :)

R42

Biggest Loser Weigh In - Wk 10

Easter struck! Good and solid! Not just me either - I did actually manage to lose 200g (w00t) but others either flattened out or put on up to a couple of kilos.

So I'm still in 3rd, and only 3.86kgs from winning the comp. But with 2 weeks to go I'm gonna have to increase my weight-loss by a factor of 10.

R42

Remember to update your Windows Mobile Daylight Savings Time (DST) settings!!!!

Update using MSI or CAB (this updates PDA or Smartphone running WM5 or WM6).  For more information on the update: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949168

(If you’re unsure – MSI is the easier update option.  Just have your phone connected to your laptop over ActiveSync before running it)

Thanks to my good friend and Technical Account Manager, Lyndon Higgins for this reminder.

R42

Egg on my waistcoat

We'll we're in Brisbane, and as usual, the DPE team hit the ground running. This evening we went to Kabuki for a Teppanyaki dinner with the local Heroes Community Influencers.

It was a great evening catching up with everyone, and watching the skill of our Teppanyaki (a.k.a Samurai) chef as he performed amazing feats with deadly cutlery.

Unfortunately my initial catching skills were offset by the loud bang of a cleaver against a hotplate, and yes, I got egg over my waistcoat.

Looking forward to tomorrow's event. I love Brisbane, have fond memories of the Convention Centre (TechEd circa '02 & '03) and hey; already have egg on my face.

R42