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As reported by Mark Relph (and as a follow up to my previous blog post here), you can now sign up for the official Canadian product launch of Visual Studio 2005, SQL Server 2005 and BizTalk Server 2006. Here are the primary sites to visit for more information:
Canadian Launch Tour Blog
http://blogs.msdn.com/canadian_launch_tour_2005/
Canadian Launch Tour Website
http://www.microsoft.com/canada/launch2005
Signup link for Toronto Launch Event
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032282920&Culture=en-CA
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Via Sam Gentile, Thom Robbins and Chris Bowen:
The PDC 2005 slides are now officially available for download!
Here is the link: http://commnet.microsoftpdc.com/content/downloads.aspx
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Thanks to Mickey Gousset, I have a new blog on Team System Rocks! As my new book, Professional Visual Studio 2005 Team System gets closer to the publishing date, I'll be posting new articles on how to use the features I've discovered within Team System. My first post is about AppVerifier - check it out here: http://teamsystemrocks.com/blogs/jldavid/archive/2005/09/18/376.aspx
If you would like to subscribe to this new blog, here is the address:
http://teamsystemrocks.com/blogs/jldavid/default.aspx
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If you are like me, you didn't get the opportunity to go to the 2005 Professional Developers Conference (my own reason for missing the PDC was to save up for the upcoming MVP Summit in Redmond). Want to feel like you've been there? I've compiled a list of resources and downloads to satisfy everyone who missed out:
First, check out the PDC website for general information about the event. You can decorate your desktop with PDC wallpaper (Links: here and here). In fact, the DeveloperPowered website has plenty of bling: IM icons, flair and t-shirt transfers (with sayings such as I Love Code, BOF Bandit, <HOLLYWOOD> and my favorite, Developer Powers Activate (if you have no clue as to the meaning of the last reference, you obviously never watched the Wonder Twins). Grab this collateral before the site goes offline!
Wondering how it was like on the first day of PDC? Here are some pictures at Flikr. First, watch the "Change the World" video (shown before the keynote). You can then watch Bill Gates PDC Keynote (featuring Jim Allchin and Chris Capossela) and the hilarious Napoleon Dynamite parody that was edited out. There are more PDC 2005 videos online - check out this full PDC presentation by Raymond Chen (entitled "Five Things Every Win32 Programmer Needs to Know" - FUN412). Both Channel 9 and Paul Thurrott's 2005 PDC site has some good photos/video/podcast content. Also don't miss this cool XAML demo presentation by The North Face.
All attendees got a little foam Channel 9 guy - you can also get one by sending the Channel 9 team a postcard. What about Windows Vista ballcaps? You can sometimes find them on eBay. Want to buy stuff from the Microsoft Store (including the PDC 2005 DVD)? Check out the Microsoft eCompanyStore website (they appear only to ship to the US).
Next (and most importantly) is content. PDCBloggers.net has some solid information. Also check out the newly revamped Windows Vista website. What about slides? First, download the complete session guide in text format or Excel format. Then search for the presentation slides on Google (and of course, you can purchase my book "Professional WinFX Beta" *shameless plug alert* which sold out at the PDC).
What about the technology itself? You can download the PDC version of WinFX (and associated tools) from the Microsoft website. Want to get Windows Vista? You must currently be a Beta tester or a MSDN (or TechNet) Subscriber to get direct access to the bits. However, there are other channels. For example, the Toronto Windows Server User Group recently held a Windows Vista Install Fest where we gave away the Beta 1 bits to our members! We are looking at doing a second event for Windows Vista Beta 2 later this year. Look out for upcoming Microsoft TechNet and Developer events for other opportunities. Also download Microsoft Max (much cooler than Microsoft Bob).
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I just read a fantastic post by Jim Minatel outlining the process of developing and writing Professional WinFX Beta. The entire story is true - it was quite a challenge to keep up with the changes affecting Longhorn at the time. I recently got a physical copy of the book in my hands and I'm really pleased with the results! A huge thanks goes out to Bill Ryan, Ron DeSerranno and Alexandra Young for helping co-write it.
One of the lessons learned is that the success of a book project not only hinges on the quality of writing and the authors but also the support of the editorial team! I'm in the process of updating my source code to work with the PDC version of WinFX (aka the WinFX Sept CTP) - you'll be able to download full working versions of the apps outlined in the book and the updated source code in the near future. I'll post the links once my chapters are ready! (FYI, the code and information in the book is based on Beta 1).
In the meantime, you may want to download the PDC builds of WinFX. Download the WinFX SDK here (rename the file extension from ".img" to ".iso" - 452 MB): http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/4/0/940d82b5-17a2-4473-9d03-63d00e02502d/2.0.50215.322.226.WinFXSDK_idw.img
You can also download different flavors of the SDK (x86, x64 & ia-64) at the following site: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C20CC6C8-1F4E-4A5C-BC79-C2FE9ABE69AA&displaylang=en
The WinFX Runtime Components are available here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=FFD636F0-86E9-41E8-9E1C-100A4CC4888F&displaylang=en
The Visual Studio Extensions for WinFX are available here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=EDE1A645-2A53-42E1-8482-3BF1FADADE06&displaylang=en
Once you have installed everything, the next step is to check out the online September CTP WinFX SDK documentation (including great new information about the Windows Workflow Foundation): http://winfx.msdn.microsoft.com/library
I recently gave a presentation at the East of Toronto .NET User group on the Windows Communication Foundation. As luck would have it, my demos failed again! (see this post more background). Fortunately, the talk went well overall - a few of us resumed the meeting at the local Tim Horton's where I finally revived one of my planned demos. In case you are wondering, I followed my own advice from the previous blog entry. Lessons learned: next time, if it's a pre-Beta or Beta technology I will do a canned demo no matter what! The presentation deck will soon appear on the user group website.
A few cool WinFX related items I have noticed over the weekend:
- Channel 9 has an amazing XAML Demo created by North Face:
Here is the video: http://channel9.msdn.com/Showpost.aspx?postid=116327
Here is an explanation on how they did it: http://msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnlong/html/fluid.asp
- Some of the 2005 PDC slides are available on the web:
http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3A216.55.183.63%2Fpdc2005%2Fslides
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The Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite Release Candidate is now available on MSDN Subscriber Downloads. I'm sure this will be one of the many downloads I'll be doing in the next couple of days, including BillG's keynote tomorrow morning (11:30 AM Toronto time). To view a more candid, relaxed Bill Gates, check out this intimate interview with Robert Scoble on Channel 9.
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Wow...this is a milestone. My 100th post! :-)
While navigating through the MSDN blogs for interesting PDC posts, I found the official blog for the Canadian Launch Tour 2005. The blog was started up by Mark Relph and is accessible at the following link: http://blogs.msdn.com/canadian_launch_tour_2005/default.aspx
You can read up on the Canadian launch details here: http://www.microsoft.com/canada/launch2005/. The signup links aren't active yet but keep checking the site because they will be soon! (Local user groups including the East of Toronto .NET User Group will also be hosting community launches. Stay tuned for the details on my blog).
Here are the Canadian tour dates:
Date City Venue
November 8 - Toronto - Toronto Congress Centre
November 10 - Ottawa - Crowne Plaza Ottawa
November 15 - Edmonton - SilverCity West Edmonton Mall
November 17 - Victoria - SilverCity Tillicum
November 22 - Vancouver - Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre
November 24 - Calgary - Calgary Stampede & Exhibition Centre
November 29 - Montreal - Centre Mont Royal
December 1 - Quebec - StarCite Ste-Foy
December 6 - Halifax - Empire Park Lane
December 8 - Winnipeg - SilverCity Polo Park
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Chris Dufour (from the East of Toronto .NET User Group) and I are in the process of setting up a Toronto Code Camp in early January 2006! All the infrastructure is in place - all we need is a location. Expect a website by October 8th - we will be opening up a call for speakers and general registration. This should be a very exciting event!
If you are interested in helping us plan this event, speak or attend - feel free to contact me using the contact info on this page (http://www.stormpixel.com/contact/). In case you are wondering, a code camp is a FREE, community-driven, all-day event for developers. Speakers are local or regional developers. Topics are based on community interest. Sessions are original and feature a heavy technical focus (no marketing fluff). (Taken directly from the Code Camp Manifesto)
If you are in the eastern provinces, you'll definitely want to take a look at the Atlantic Canada CodeCamp spearheaded by Derek Hatchard. To learn more about this code camp, visit: http://www.atlanticcodecamp.ca/
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On October 24th, I'll be appearing on BlaBla DotNet, a French radio show on the topic of software development. I'll be chatting with Mario Cardinal about Team System, and more specifically the features of MSF Agile and CMMI (I wrote the MSF chapter in the upcoming book Professional Visual Studio 2005 Team System published by Wiley). To learn more about the show (and to listen in), click on the following link: http://www.blabladotnet.com. Thanks to Mario and Guy for setting up the interview!
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I just got word that Microsoft will be providing sneak peeks at the XBox 360 and Windows Vista as part of the Microsoft TechNet Innovations Tour! Here is the writeup: Preview the innovations Microsoft has made to the TechNet Program; learn about new resources, get to know the IT Pro Advisory team and more.
Windows Vista
Be among the first to find out how you can help lower IT costs, seamlessly connect your users to the information, people and devices they need to maximize their results. Plus, leverage break-through organizational tools to focus on what matters most.
Windows Mobile
Experience the power of Windows Mobile™ software-based devices. Empower your mobile workforce, get the inside track on new developments coming in 2006 and more.
Xbox
See how Xbox 360™ can open the door to incredible new high-definition entertainment. Be among the first to preview Xbox 360 games and more.
If that wasn't enough, Microsoft will also present a free movie to attendees from one of my favorite sci-fi authors Ray Bradbury!
A Sound of Thunder
Unravel the mystery behind the catastrophic historical changes that threaten to erase humanity from existence as you travel back to the Pre-historic age with a star-studded cast including, Ben Kingsley, Edward Burns who team up with Catherine McCormack, the inventor of time travel technology.
Here is more information from IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318081/
Here is a list of the dates and cities:
Date - City/Signup Link
September 22nd - Victoria
September 22nd - Halifax
September 27th - Vancouver
September 27th - Quebec City
September 29th - Calgary
September 29th - Montreal
October 4th - Edmonton
October 4th - Ottawa
October 6th - Winnipeg
October 6th - Toronto
For the complete scoop, visit this page on the TechNet Canada website:
http://www.microsoft.com/canada/technet/technetinnovations/default.aspx