From the monthly archives:

January 2009

Frustrations with Microsoft – Part 1 – Complexity

January 25, 2009Main

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 [...]

Read the full article →

Trimming the fat?

January 25, 2009Main

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 [...]

Read the full article →

Install Windows 7 from a USB stick

January 25, 2009Link

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 [...]

Read the full article →

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

January 25, 2009Community

[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: [...]

Read the full article →

Windows Live Tools for Visual Studio Getting Started Guide

January 14, 2009Live

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 [...]

Read the full article →

LINK: Do and Don’ts of development

January 13, 2009Link

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

Read the full article →

nsquared Microsoft Surface apps

January 13, 2009Link

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 [...]

Read the full article →

Windows 7 Secrets

January 12, 2009Link

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 [...]

Read the full article →

Running Google Chrome on Windows 7 Beta 1

January 12, 2009Main

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 [...]

Read the full article →

Live Mesh gains credibility

January 11, 2009Link

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 [...]

Read the full article →

Bob’s server room

January 11, 2009Link

Yes, I think this is pretty cool. Bob Muglia, recently promoted to President of Server and Tools at Microsoft, shows the Channel 10 team around his house, and in the basement. And hiding away in the basement is his 9 server setup (soon to be virtualised down to 4), organized to cater for –in Bob’s [...]

Read the full article →

Microsoft patent push – 57,000 and counting

January 4, 2009Link

57,000 – That’s a lot of patents Microsoft are aiming for.
This is actually an interesting insight into the Microsoft mindset – they are actively pursuing research + development, and protecting their IP. The numbers from the Microsoft PressPass article put the totals at:

10,000 issued US patents
17,000 pending US patents
30,000 international and pending patents

 
I wonder how [...]

Read the full article →

New Generation workers and Email

January 4, 2009General

I had to shake my head when I read this Accenture survey on the demands of the Millennial Generation. The usual ‘demands’ of wanting to choose their technology, insisting on state-of-the-art technology, not wanting to seek corporate approval, requiring new communication channels, etc all came up.
It seemed odd that a survey like this would [...]

Read the full article →

Outliers

January 4, 2009General

Malcolm Gladwell is a great story-teller, no doubt about it. I loved his latest book Outliers.
And whilst I agree with Joel Spolksy that the book is little more than cleverly strung together anecdotes, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value. For example, Gladwell’s chapter on the necessity of hard work (you must do your [...]

Read the full article →