Author: Ben Hall

MSMobiles.com have just posted an interesting review of the HTC Hermes (originally a WM5 phone) running Windows Mobile 6.

http://msmobiles.com/news.php/6155.html

Not sure if T-Mobile / HTC are going to be releasing an offical update…

Zi Makki has just setup his Wiki for a geek dinner after the MSDN Roadshow on the 21st March in London.

Signup here:

http://www.zimakki.com/wiki/21st%20March%20Geek%20Dinner.ashx

The ones I have been too have been loads of fun, so if your going to the day and can attend I do recommend it.  Hopefully I’m going to the day, not sure if I will be attending the dinner due to the amount of work I currently have on.

Also check out http://www.screwturn.eu/ what he is using as his Wiki.  Its built using ASP.net 2.0 (I’m guessing from the file extension).  I’ll install it tonight and post a review sometime this week as I’ve been wanted a ASP.net wiki for some time.

I’ve just read over on the Dot Net Solutions rss that there is a new UK Community starting up based in Reading, actually having the meetings at TVP (Microsoft Offices), called VistaSquad.

The first two presentations are “Are you ready for Vista – Windows hardware assessment tools (Scott Belton)” and “Deep Dive into WCF – (Michael Luke)” and it all kicks off at 18:15 on the 28th of March and should end around 21:25.

More info here:

http://vistasquad.co.uk/blogs/announcements/archive/2007/03/09/first-meeting.aspx

and

http://www.dotnetsolutions.ltd.uk/blog/2007/03/11/

Good luck guys, definitely going to keep an eye out on your progress.  If I ever get time, I’ll attend a meeting.

As many of you know, I have been a Microsoft Student Partner this year and have had a great experience.  Been loads of fun, met some great people and got a few presents along the way for my effort.  Now its your chance (as long as your at University next year) to become a Student Partner, and I highly recommend it.

Applications for the Microsoft Student Partners (MSP) programme 07/08 are now open. If you are a student passionate about technology, ready to share your knowledge and want to develop skills outside your field of study, we want to hear from you.

What is the MSP Programme?

The Microsoft Student Partner Programme recognises top young minds from around the UK who are passionate about technology. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to develop real-world skills to help you succeed in your future career, to help others learn about the technology of today and tomorrow, and to connect with other like-minded students, all whilst having a ton of fun along the way.

The programme is our way of encouraging students who are interested in building a closer relationship with Microsoft, and those who are simply hooked on technology, to develop their skills further. This year’s programme will officially run from June 2007 to May 2007.

What is an MSP?

The Microsoft Student Partner programme consists of the brightest and most innovative student developers and technology enthusiasts from universities around the world.

The ‘ideal candidate’ for an MSP would be a passionate and enthusiast individual who wants to learn about new tools and technologies. You would need to have a whole range of skills including excellent time management, organisation and communication skills to ensure that you could host a successful campus launch event.

An MSP should be comfortable and confident presenting in front of large audiences of both students and faculty members. You may even be asked to present in front of your fellow MSPs at an event. General business and sales skills come in very handy in order to allow you to articulate your ideas effectively when presenting.

MSPs are sociable, friendly and approachable individuals who like to meet new people. You will require the ability work as a team as well as use your own initiative. In summary, MSPs are innovative and creative students who are extremely passionate about technology.

You will need to download and complete the MSP application form at the top of the page. You must send the complete form to [email protected]. The closing date for applications is Friday 26 May 2007. We will then review all the submitted applications and select the brightest and most innovative student developers and technology enthusiasts from universities across the UK and Ireland.

You can download the MSP application form and more information about the programme at http://www.microsoft.com/uk/academia/students/student-partners/default.mspx.

Good luck with your application.  If you want to ask me anything, leave a comment.

Visual Studio code name “Orcas” delivers on Microsoft’s vision of smart client applications by enabling developers to rapidly create connected applications that deliver the highest quality rich user experiences. This new version enables any size organization to rapidly create more secure, manageable, and more reliable applications that take advantage of Windows Vista and the 2007 Office System. By building these new types of applications, organizations will find it easier than ever before to capture and analyze information so that they can make effective business decisions.

This release includes a whole host of new stuff, including Linq to SQL which was missing from the last CTP.  If you have any requests for topics/screencasts then give me a shout and I’ll try and fit them in. 

Download it from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=b533619a-0008-4dd6-9ed1-47d482683c78&displaylang=en&tm#Overview

The highlights of this CTP include (but not limited too):

• The LINQ Project: this CTP represents a major milestone in the LINQ project.
• VB 9.0 Language Support
• C# 3.0 Language Support
• LINQ to ADO.NET
• LINQ To SQL Designer
• LINQ over XML (XLinq)
• System.Xml Bridge Classes added
• LINQ to Objects API
• ADO.NET vNext
• Web
• Client App-Level Services
• C# Workflow Rules
• XML
• MSBuild
• UAC Manifests in the Managed Build Process
• IDE
• CLR
• Office
• Team Architect
• Team Developer
• Team Test 
• Team Foundation Server
• Visual C++

Sorry readers about the lack of updates on the blog.  Been really busy this last week, hopefully I will be able to say why come Friday and not just ignore the work done… 😉 

But fear not, I have loads of topics I want to cover on WPF and of course the Vista Gadget video (a USB Mic has been delivered to me so I am all set).

As previously posted, NxtGenUG are doing a day long event in Reading in May.  For this event I have created a countdown gadget for your vista sidebar.

Download it here:
http://blog.benhall.me.uk/downloads/NxtGenUGFestCountDown.gadget

The gadget looks like this (sorry about the quality of the screenshot):

If you use the following code you can have it on your own blog

which looks something like this:

At some point over the next two weeks I will create a screencast on how I created the gadget from start to finish.  Let me know what you think to it.

NxtGenUG have just announced Fest07 – “Into the future” which is “a unique one day event featuring TOP European speakers (we mean top!) as we look at what Microsoft technology is here, what is just around the corner and what the future may hold” on the 23rd May 2007 at Microsoft Reading, TVP.

This is free to members but you can sign up as a non-member with a special early-bird price!

More information (well actually, nothing more but there will be soon, I think they are updating the site as I write this) here:
http://www.nxtgenug.net/fest07/

I’ll be attending unless they have managed to put it on one of the four days when I have an exam 🙂

Hope to see you there.

The planned date for DDD5 is 30th June 2007.  If you want to speak, or do a GrokTalk then start having a think – the call for speakers opens on the 24th March.

Tonight, me and Sarah made a snow baby and his name is Frosty 🙂

This is me constructing his head (very badly…)

And this is Frosty with Sarah

Finally a full body shot.

And they say students do nothing all day…..