What's Rockin' in Singapore

We’ve just recently launched a localized MSDN page filled with Singapore Content. Check the new site at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-sg/default.aspx. Here' you’ll find links to local blogs, news about upcoming Microsoft events, and of course content from our Local MVPs too!

Check out the site on http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-sg/default.aspx and give us feed back! :)

"Almost every aspect of what drives the business is changing in some way, shape or form."
- Ray Ozzie, CTO, Microsoft

Over the last 30 years, the dramatic advances in technology have revolutionized the way information is created, stored, shared, and used. As we take advantage of the new opportunities on our various devices and across the Internet, our experiences often become fractured and complex.
Microsoft is dedicated to helping individuals and businesses leverage the flourishing opportunities. Our "Software plus Services" strategy aims at weaving together the best of software and Internet services to provide a new generation of rich, seamless experiences that are personalized, integrated, and available anywhere. The result? Greater freedom of choice and better interactivity!
It's an exciting world. And you're invited!
As we move into the exciting world of "Software plus Services", we invite you to the next edition of Partner Tech Day. This briefing and technology update on Microsoft's Web Platform, has been tailored to help you take control of the next generation web and discover new opportunities for your business. Do join us and make the most of it!

  AGENDA

   Registration: 8:30a.m. - 9:00a.m.

9:00a.m.
to
9:30a.m.

Enterprise Development in Singapore
As the agency for enterprise development, SPRING Singapore aims to enhance the competitiveness of enterprises to develop a strong base of dynamic and innovative Singapore enterprises. This session will explain SPRING's initiatives to nurture a pro-business environment, facilitate and enhance the innovation and enterprise capabilities of small and medium enterprises.

9:30a.m.
to
10:30a.m.

Keynote: Microsoft's Web Platform Strategy
This Keynote will outline Microsoft's Web Platform and give you a perspective of the different Microsoft Technologies that will enable the next generation applications on the web.

10:30a.m.
to
12:00p.m.

Building Rich Internet Applications (RIA) using Silverlight
In this session, we will discuss how using Microsoft® Silverlight^TM -a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in - can help you deliver the next generation of media experiences and rich interactive applications for the Web.

1:00p.m.
to
2:15p.m.

Introduction to ASP.NET 3.5
ASP.NET 3.5 and Visual Studio 2008 bring great new functionality around Web development and design that makes building standards based, next generation Web sites easier than ever. From the inclusion of ASP.NET AJAX into the runtime, to new controls, the new LINQ data capabilities, to improved support for CSS, JavaScript and others, Web development has taken a significant step forward.

2:15p.m.
to
3:30p.m.

Introduction to the Microsoft Sync Framework
This session will introduce the Microsoft Sync Framework - a comprehensive synchronization platform enabling collaboration and offline access for applications, services and devices with support for any data type, any data store, any transfer protocol, and network topology. This session will help you understand how the Microsoft Sync Framework enables synchronization to build a synchronization topology.

3:45p.m.
to
5:00p.m.

Exploring the power of Internet Information Services 7.0
More than just a Web server, Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS7) provides a security-enhanced, easy-to-manage platform for developing and reliably hosting Web applications and services. Moreover, IIS7 is a major enhancement to the Windows Web platform and plays a central role in unifying Microsoft's Web platform technologies - ASP.NET, Windows Communication Foundation Web services, and Windows SharePoint Services.

Venue    : Microsoft Auditorium,
              One Marina Boulevard,
              NTUC Centre, Level 21,
              Microsoft Singapore
Date      : February 22, 2008
Time      : 0900hrs to 1700hrs

RSVP
Write to gloria@techmexeventsasia.com (with your Name, Company Name and Contact Numbers) or call Gloria at 6550-8963

Save the date on 2.22.2008 for this quarter's Partner Tech Day. The worldwide web is fast becoming the "wild wide web" so we'll be spending one whole day talking to you guys about the upcoming technologies Microsoft has that will help you tame it. Here's the agenda:

• Microsoft's Web Platform Strategy
• Silverlight 2.0: Enabling Rich Internet Applications
• ASP.NET 3.5: AJAX out of the Box -- But wait, there's more!
• Microsoft Sync Framework: Data Everywhere, In Sync
• IIS7: What's in it for the developers?

Tune in for more details on how to register!

There's definitely a LOT of innovation coming out of the Singapore ISV community. Join Chewy as he talks to one of our very own startup companies, TenCube, featuring their solution, WaveSecure. Check out their video:

One of our local ISVs, Advanced Interactive Technologies (AIT) stepped up to building the very first Sideshow gadget for the ASUS W5Fe. Check out their video on channel 9.

Visual Studio 2008 Beta 2 is now available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b98a61ba-99b0-40b7-ab6e-5386a2b94217&DisplayLang=en

For the designers, the August preview for Expression Blend 2 is also now out, simultaneously with the Silverlight 1.0 RC and 1.1 Alpha refresh. Obviously this build of Blend will now create SL projects with the 1.0 RC. For those who've gotten started on developing with SL 1.0, there are a couple of breaking changes. The preview for the 1.0 SDK contains a document that lists these breaking changes, which you can download  here

Whether you're an ISV who's interested in building an OBA Solution, or you already have one, http://www.obacentral.com is the community for you!

About OBA Central
OBA Central is intended as a vibrant and active community that brings together Microsoft, Microsoft OBA ISV, services partners and customers, and makes it easy to connect, and find solutions and services that address their business and technical needs.

If you are looking for solutions that can help

• improve your organization’s productivity
• realize the full potential of your LOB investments
• Improve data management
• Achieve better workflow or compliance
• Support better decision making 

OBA Central can help you locate OBA solutions and services that meet your needs!
As an ISV or SI, you can use OBA Central to get the word out about your solution or services to a broad audience interested in the key capabilities that make OBAs so powerful. Here are some benefits of being on OBA Central*:

• Solutions featured on OBA Central

• Opportunity to participate in OBA Central interviews about your OBA solution

• Opportunity to create and show interactive demos of your OBA solution - details below

• Ability to publicize your upcoming events, make announcements and take polls

For additional details about these benefits, please contact OBA Central via the Ask OBA Central link at the bottom of the OBA Central home page.

Check out the new portal dedicated solely for ISV's http://www.microsoft.com/isv/

Right now, they're featuring a Worldwide ISV Contest. Visit the site for more details!

Also, there are a number of ISV's on showcase so if you'd like to check out what the rest of the world is doing, check out http://www.microsoft.com/isv/showcase.aspx

It's going to be an exciting year for the Singapore ISV Community: we'll be launching Windows Server 2008 ("Longhorn"), SQL Server 2008 ("Katmai") and Visual Studio 2008 ("Orcas") early next year! In line with that, we're on the lookout for ISV's that are willing to get their hands dirty with these latest technologies and start building solutions on them. If you want to know more about how you can participate in our Early Adopter Initiative program, drop us a mail at sgisv[at]microsoft[dot]com

We’ll be conducting a Longhorn Server Application Compatibility Lab from the 1st to 3rd August 07. This half-day session would focus on application compatibility testing of your product with Longhorn Server. This is a great opportunity for you to meet our technology experts and learn about Microsoft’s emerging technologies.

Fantastic February for Microsoft ISV Partner HeuLab (www.heulab.com) as they got featured in the Budget Speech 2007 dated 15 Feb 07(http://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/budget_2007/budget_speech/section9.html) and The Sunday Times dated 18 Feb 07. First time ever this has happened. Well done Rakesh and Soon Jinn!

We are glad to invite you to the first ISV Innovation Day of the New Year. This edition has been enhanced to offer you more value. The sessions aim at sharing insights on how you can grow your business, expand your skills, close more deals and support your customers with a wide array of programs & assistance options delivered by Microsoft Experts. Let's meet and discover new ways to grow your business…faster than ever!

Venue: Microsoft Singapore Level 21 Auditorium, One Marina Boulevard

RSVP: onghelen@singnet.com.sg