Microsoft UK have launched a new competition aimed at University students.  Answer 10 technical and non-technical questions and the top 3 people at the end win a prize!

Prizes include Alienware Aurora M9700, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Zune.  The University with the most points win an on campus Xbox day with food, drinks and loads of games.

Link:  http://www.microsoft.co.uk/studentsupremo

I got 1148 but I'm sure you could do better...

Good Luck!!

 Registration for this years event is now open!! They have now updated the sites with more information about this years competition and now you can setup your team for the different areas.

The competitions this year are:

• Software Design
• Embedded Development
• Web Development 
• Project Hoshimi – Programming Battle
• IT Challenge
• Algorithm
• Interface Design
• Short Film
• Photography 

Some are group based, while others you can work on individually.

The main competition (for me) is software design where teams of upto four students are invited to design software based around a theme.  As previously posted, the theme for this year is Imagine a world where "technology enables a better education for all".  This is the one I am planning on entering, just need to find a team.  First you have to win the UK based round, before being invited to Korea.  Can't wait!

Think I am also going to try my hand at the Algorithm as well.

So why should you enter?  Over the past four years the imagine cup have grown to a massive event with lots of publicity, its a great thing to discuss in interviews, you can showoff your knowledge and plus its FUN! Oh and there is $25,000 plus other 'money can't buy benefits' on offer for the winning team.

I'm sure you will be hearing a lot about this event shortly as MSPs will soon be promoting it around the various Universities.

For more information visit:

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/academia/imaginecup/2007/default.mspx

http://imaginecup.com/default.aspx

I strongly recommend you look into entering.  If you are planning on entering, or have any questions please post on the comments and I'll get back to you ASAP.

Windows Powershell has been released to the web, with downloads now available for Vista RC1, XP Pro SP2 and 2003 Server.

"Microsoft Windows® PowerShell is a new command-line shell and scripting language designed for system administration and automation. Built on the .NET Framework, Windows PowerShell enables IT professionals and developers control and automate the administration of Windows and applications."

To download visit : http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/powershell/download.mspx

I've just installed it and looking forward to having a play as everyone keeps saying it is really cool.

I really wanted to get MySQL logging all the queries rails was producing.  After a good hour of messing around I have cracked it!

Mac OS X has a startup file which starts mysql on startup.  This needs to be modified to turn on logging support.

This can be found in /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM.  The file required editing is MySQLCOM.  Open it up using your favorite text editor.  The the StartService() method, and then after the start command add

" --log=/var/log/mysqld.log"

To create the log file, use the following commands

sudo cd /var/log

sudo touch mysqld.log

sudo chown mysql mysqld.log

Once that has been done, restart the server

sudo /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM/./MySQLCOM restart

You can then tail the log file and see all the queries in real time

tail -f mysqld.log

Bobs your uncle! Done

I really wanted to get MySQL logging all the queries rails was producing.  After a good hour of messing around I have cracked it!

Mac OS X has a startup file which starts mysql on startup.  This needs to be modified to turn on logging support.

This can be found in /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM.  The file required editing is MySQLCOM.  Open it up using your favorite text editor.  The the StartService() method, and then after the start command add

" --log=/var/log/mysqld.log"

To create the log file, use the following commands

sudo cd /var/log

sudo touch mysqld.log

sudo chown mysql mysqld.log

Once that has been done, restart the server

sudo /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM/./MySQLCOM restart

You can then tail the log file and see all the queries in real time

tail -f mysqld.log

Bobs your uncle! Done

I really wanted to get MySQL logging all the queries rails was producing.  After a good hour of messing around I have cracked it!

Mac OS X has a startup file which starts mysql on startup.  This needs to be modified to turn on logging support.

This can be found in /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM.  The file required editing is MySQLCOM.  Open it up using your favorite text editor.  The the StartService() method, and then after the start command add

" --log=/var/log/mysqld.log"

To create the log file, use the following commands

sudo cd /var/log

sudo touch mysqld.log

sudo chown mysql mysqld.log

Once that has been done, restart the server

sudo /Library/StartupItems/MySQLCOM/./MySQLCOM restart

You can then tail the log file and see all the queries in real time

tail -f mysqld.log

Bobs your uncle! Done

The agenda has been posted on the site.

http://www.developerday.co.uk/ddd/agendaddd4.asp

This is what I think I am going to do:

SQL AND XML (Presentation) Dave McMahon or How to Write Crap Code in C# (Presentation) Ben Lamb

An Introduction to Microsoft Robotics Studio (Presentation) Steve Tudor or The Use and Abuse of Reflection (Presentation) Joanna Carter

"But it works on my PC!" or continuous integration to improve software quality (Presentation) Richard Fennell or Securing applications and communications in ASP.NET (Presentation) Barry Dorrans

Introduction to Aspect Oriented Programming (Presentation) Abid Quereshi or TechED Highlights (Presentation) Richard Costall & Dave McMahon

Extensible LINQing (Presentation) Oliver Sturm

Depends how I feel on the day which I will be attending, but looks like there is something for everyone.

There is a strong NxtGenUG feel to the day which is great to see.

BIG NEWS! Vista has gone RTM!! This is a big moment and it should be available on MSDN soon (no confirmation yet, but within the week!).

Can't wait to get my hands on a copy (via MSDNAA of course...).

Keep an eye on YouTube for MacBook + Vista RTM videos - as soon as I see one with glass effects running properly I'm going to buy one (I think).

Office 2007 also went RTM last Friday. Looks like we are all released up and ready to go!

UPDATE: I forgot, the build number is 6000.16386 “061101-2205″

Apple have just upgraded their range of MacBook's to include Core 2 Duo.

The question now is => Should I get one?  @ £699.71 it's very tempting.

• 1GB 667 DDR2 - 2x512MB SO-DIMMs
• 60GB Serial ATA drive (5400rpm)
• Apple Mini-DVI to VGA Adapter
• Keyboard (English) & Mac OS (English)
• Country kit
• 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo
• Combo Drive
• AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth
• Power Adapter
• Battery

Didn't get chance to blog this yesterday, but .Net Framework 3.0 has gone RTM.

You can download it the parts at the following places.

Remember this works on XP and 2003 and is not just a Vista feature (just incase you didn't know).

At DDD4 this year, they are giving people the chance to do a 10 minute talk on something of there choice open to both speakers and attendees.  I think they want something like Grok Talks style of presentations.

It's something a little different.

More information @

http://www.thehughpage.com/DDD4LunchTime

Highly jealous of these guys, going to have to pick their brains lots @ DDD4 but my friends over @ usingtangent.net are at TechEd this week and are keeping a really good blog on their adventures.

Check it out @ http://blog.usingtangent.net

Reminders

Keep an eye on NxtGenUG's site - http://www.nxtgenug.net/ as they are doing a podcast a day regarding what's happening over there.

Finally, The Virtual Side has some really good videos http://www.mseventseurope.com/TechEd/06/pre/defaultDev.aspx

Lots and lots of reading and videos to watch this week - best get started

Ben Riga has just posted information regarding the WPF Healthcare prototype source code have been released. This is an old demo (PDC 05) but still one of the best I have seem (maybe due to lack of public prototypes). 

Within the zip file you will find the source code, some gadget source code and documents breaking code the application and code which is cool!

Download it from the link below and have a look at this great application, maybe get some ideas for your next application.  Looking forward to getting some time for WPF soon (well, one can hope).

Links:

http://blogs.msdn.com/benriga/archive/2006/11/02/wpf-healthcare-sample-source-posted.aspx

http://wpf.netfx3.com/files/folders/applications/entry6608.aspx

Microsoft have announced that Vista is going to be launched to businesses on November 30th along with Office 2007 and Exchange 12/2007, although E12 isn't going to be RTM until December (like the Biztalk 2006 launch...).  I am guessing this means that it will be available on MSDN from November 30th as well.

Retail launch is not until January (30th approaching to APCMag).

Build number will be forced to 6000.

Box Art

Source: Bink.nu

Looks cool!! Only boxed copy of Windows I have saw is Windows ME which wasn't that cool (all the rest have been OEM) - wonder if I will get chance to see this one.

More here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6110958.stm

and here:

http://apcmag.com/node/4258  http://www.apcstart.com/node/4236

and here:

How the Windows Vista Packaging will open

The new Windows Vista exam (71-620) is in beta (October 31-November 13 2006).

The preparation guide can be found here : Windows Vista exam 71-620

Not sure if I have time to complete this while it is in Beta and i'm not sure if it is free or not - if anyone knows, please let me know.

The registration for DDD4 has opened.

02 December 2006 09:30 - 02 December 2006 17:00 GMT, London
Welcome Time: 08:45

Microsoft Ltd

Chicago 1&2, Memphis & Everest
Building 3
Microsoft Campus Thames Valley Park Reading Berkshire RG6 1WG
United Kingdom

Sign up link:

http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032315483&Culture=en-GB

Strongly recommend that you attend - it will be a great day! Remember - it's Free!

Also a Geek dinner afterwards if your interested,

Sign up link:

http://www.thehughpage.com/DDD4GeekDinner