Technology 'n Me (Sukesh) : Vista

How to reuse contacts from Live Messenger in Vista?

sukeshak — Sun, 15 Jul 2007 12:35:32 GMT

Assume that you have a lot of contacts on Live Messenger which you would like to use in different applications provided in Vista. By default you won't have direct access to contact due to security settings (encryption) to protect that information.

There is an easy tweak/option to enable this information.

In Windows Live Messenger go to
Tools -> Options -> Security (Uncheck the box shown below)

Now check your "C:\users\<login Name>\Contacts" folder, you will find a folder with your Live ID name and all your Messenger contacts inside that folder...

What is Windows Vista Sideshow?

sukeshak — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 10:33:00 GMT

I read a lot of news and comments about Windows Vista Sideshow. Several comments are in the lines of saying... hmmm what is the big deal about this new feature? Why would I need a small display on my laptop to see my meeting room or tasks, I already have them on my mobile... So I thought I'll just add some of my dreams and some reality about Windows Vista Sideshow since the above thoughts are from people who are not ready to dream about the usage scenarios.

First of all Windows Vista Sideshow is not a feature but a technology powered by Windows Vista.

For more proof of another use of this technology you can see the new Windows Vista MCE remotes launched during CES.

http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=vista+side+show+remotes

Now is this only for laptops and Media Center Remotes? I don't think so!

Lets dream a little and see what else can be done or how this technology can be taken to the next level...

Lets say in next couple of years we get to buy these mini devices powered by Wifi/Bluetooth and have support for Windows Vista Sideshow. Assume that by year 2009, these mini devices become dirt cheap like 5 devices for $100 or so. So people (like me) would go and buy 5 or 10 or more of these devices and would fix it everywhere in the house

On the refrigerator
On the main door
In the bed room
In the car
obviously in my MCE remote also and anywhere else you prefer...

and all these devices are being connected to the same computer running Windows Vista so that all the information required would be at your finger-tip anytime.

One of the differences with Microsoft Technologies is that you get a platform to develop and enhance it further. Which means that there are no bounds to how these mini devices can be used... for example these mini devices can be used in these scenarios (and many more which is limited by your ideas)

Home automation, to an extend of replacing all the switches in the house
Outlook calendar/tasks
Windows Live Email/Calendar/Messenger Buddies
Controlling music from your home theatre system (maybe Windows Vista MCE)
Stock Quotes

After reading the above do you really think Windows Vista Sideshow is just a small little display attached to one of those expensive laptops?

Don't forget to check my blog website http://blogs.awesomeideas.net

CardSpace (InfoCard) samples not working with RC1

sukeshak — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 07:10:00 GMT

If you are excited about CardSpace and wants to dirty your hands with .NET 3.0 RC1 bits, you will realize that CardSpace samples are broken. What "broken" means here. All of those samples are meant to work with "Self Issued Cards". But due to change in namespace from RC1 bits, CardSpace Identity selector prompts for a managed card.

Current samples uses the following

But starting with RC1 you need to change "schemas.microsoft.com" to "schemas.xmlsoap.org". Just a find and replace is good enough.

So with the changes it should look like

While writing this post, neither sample posted on www.identityblog.com has been updated nor any of the other samples available, including SDK documentation.