Craig Bailey

ArchiveJanuary 2009

January 25, 2009

Frustrations with Microsoft – Part 1 – Complexity

By Craig Bailey
6 Min read
17 comments
25January

In a word: Complexity Yes, I know I’ve touched on this before, but it seems more apparent than ever that one of the problems crushing Microsoft at the moment is a set of overly complex experiences. We need simplicity. One the strongest marketing messages you can broadcast is: It just works! Give me a product that just works, and you’ve got yourself a fan. Companies like Apple (the current...

January 25, 2009

Trimming the fat?

By Craig Bailey
2 Min read
2 comments

The Microsoft layoffs (they’re reducing headcount by approx 5.21%) announced last week have been well and truly covered, with many (like Mini) saying it’s too little, too late, and others lamenting that a company of Microsoft’s stature has ‘steeped’ to get rid of it’s biggest asset. My opinion? Well, it’s just business right? I’m sure the decision wasn’t made lightly, and who am...

January 25, 2009

Install Windows 7 from a USB stick

By Craig Bailey
2 Min read
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I’m really enjoying Windows 7, it’s a little nicer to use, it’s pretty stable, and most importantly everything just works (well, except for Sleep mode on my Toshiba, but I suspect that’s a graphics driver issue and not necessarily a Windows 7 one – but hey, that’s what Beta versions are for right? To iron out these issues). Now, you may have a hurdle installing Windows 7 on a few...

January 25, 2009

SBTUG: Wed 28 Jan 2009 – SharePoint, Windows 7 and Touch

By Craig Bailey
2 Min read
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[Ooops! Forgot to post this on my own blog (but it’s over on the new SBTUG blog – and while you’re there let me know what you think of the revamped SBTUG site).] Quick details: The Sydney Business & Technology User Group When: Wed 28 January 2009 Time: 6pm (until approx 8:30pm) Where: Microsoft, North Ryde Contact: Craig Bailey : 0413 489 388 Cost: $5 donation (to cover Pizza) More...

January 14, 2009

Windows Live Tools for Visual Studio Getting Started Guide

By Craig Bailey
1 Min read
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14January

As Nick has mentioned we’ve released a Getting Started guide for the Windows Live Tools for Visual Studio controls. The November CTP (details here, download here) has a bunch of controls for implementing Live Services in your web apps. It includes ASP.NET controls for Contacts, Login status, Maps, Messenger chats, Silverlight streaming etc. The November CTP includes compatibility with Windows...

January 13, 2009

LINK: Do and Don’ts of development

By Craig Bailey
1 Min read
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13January

Mads Kristensen has a nice checklist of Do This items for high quality websites.
Jeff Atwood has a list of Don’t Do This items for general development (based on the Common Weakness Enumeration list)
Technorati Tags: Jeff Atwood,Mads Kristensen,Advice

January 13, 2009

nsquared Microsoft Surface apps

By Craig Bailey
1 Min read
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I thought you might be interested in this video – in it Neil chats with Eric Havir and demonstrates some of the educational apps we’ve been building for Microsoft Surface. The chemistry one at the end of the video is my favourite. It’s a little difficult to make out exactly what is on the screen at times, so make sure you click on the ‘watch in HD’ at the bottom right of the YouTube...

January 12, 2009

Windows 7 Secrets

By Craig Bailey
1 Min read
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12January

There’s been a few people linking to this excellent list of Windows 7 Secrets by Tim Sneath. And rightly so, it’s a great help. As @digory noted, there’s details of how to get IM back to the status bar (where it belongs!). But there’s other gems as well, like how to open a second instance of an already running app (Tip 19 – Shift click it on your task bar) and how to walk through the...

January 12, 2009

Running Google Chrome on Windows 7 Beta 1

By Craig Bailey
1 Min read
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If you are having trouble running Chrome on Windows 7 then chances are you are running the 64bit version of Windows 7. The solution is pretty simple. I’ve put it below, and note that it is almost entirely copied from Sandip’s BlogsDNA blog here – I’ve simply incorporated some of the comments into the screenshot. Right click on your Google Chrome icon and bring up the properties. Add...

January 11, 2009

Live Mesh gains credibility

By Craig Bailey
2 Min read
6 comments
11January

You’ve hopefully seen the news about Live Mesh winning the Best Technology Innovation of 2008 at the Crunchies. I think this is an important award for Microsoft, since it indicates that there is at least some mainstream acceptance that they’re doing something cool and innovative (note: by mainstream, I’m talking about people in tech as a whole – not just Microsoft fan boys like myself...

Craig Bailey

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