Archive for the ‘Microsoft’ Category

Photosynth on CSI:NY

Sunday, May 4th, 2008

Normally one sees a lot of mocked up or otherwise faked “computer technology” on TV shows. Recently on CSI:NY they used some real tech from Microsoft Research – Photosynth – on the show. You can read about it and see the clip on the Virtual Earth blog. Pretty cool stuff. I can’t wait until this stuff makes it out of the labs so more people can use it for real.

Digital Dorm – In A Bus?

Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

Edwin Guarin is driving a bus fitted out as a high tech, lots of games and devices, digital dorm room to campuses around the NorthEast.  He’s writing about the trip on his blog.  He’s showing of computers, Zunes, Xbox 360 (apparently Rock Band is popular on the tour so far) and giving away gifts and prizes. Its a fun way to get a look at some cool technology.

The full schedule is here. Stops this week include:

  • Hofstra University
  • NorthEastern University
  • UMASS Boston
  • Bunker Hill Community College

Next week

  • Bentley College (I expect reports from this stop)
  • Harvard
  • Boston University

Still more following that – check the schedule for schools, dates and times as some of the locations are yet to be determined. If he comes to you campus or to a campus near you stop by and tell Edwin I sent you.

Ex-Apple Guy Interviews Steve Ballmer

Friday, March 7th, 2008

I never thought I’d see Guy Kawasaki at a Microsoft event but it happened. Earlier this week Guy Kawasaki interviewed Steve Ballmer at the MIX08 event. It’s a very interesting interview and at times very funny. Usually events like this have someone tossing “softball” questions but Guy really doesn’t pull any punches.

I enjoyed the back and forth over the new light Apple laptop. I found it interesting that Guy uses the same cell phone (a Motorola Q) that I do because he depends on the connection with Exchange for email. Windows Mobile is pretty good really. Apparently Kawasaki does some work with Microsoft and he actually has nice things to say about the changes he has seen in the company.

I haven’t finished watching it yet but so far it is one of the most interesting interviews with Ballmer that I have seen.

Dreamspark

Friday, February 22nd, 2008

Have you all heard about Dreamspark yet? It is a program Bill Gates announced earlier this week to allow students to get a bunch of Microsoft development software including the new Expression design and web tools, Visual Studio, Windows Server and a free membership in the XNA Creators Club.

There are more details here. Since you don’t have to dump the software after graduation even those of you close to graduation may want to get a hold of this so you can try some things out on the cheap.

I’m Starting to Fade

Thursday, February 14th, 2008

There is an expression in German that translates to “work makes life sweet.” There is a corollary thought that translates to “but too much is too much.” I’m starting to feel that later expression.

Eleven days ago I left home for a business trip to Seattle. I’m still there and have two more days before I get home. And it is all starting to catch up with me. In that time I have had exactly one day off – last Saturday. Unfortunately (in some ways) I spent that day having a lot of fun. The list of things we did is embarrassingly long and started with breakfast and ended with a return to my hotel well after 1AM. Mentally relaxing but not physically.

People who don’t travel on business often don’t understand how much work it is. One generally starts with meeting people for breakfast and ends it with a long dinner also with a lot of work components. In between are meetings broken up only by more meetings. Think about having a school day that runs 14 hours long and continuing even while you are eating.

I was a little late for breakfast this morning – I just could not get up. Right now between sessions (this is a training week) I am trying to get some of my regular day job work done. There is a big party tonight (yes we do have some fun) but I’m not sure I’ll be going. If I do go I will be leaving early. The younger people and the people who only arrived this week may have energy left but I’m about spent. I am seriously looking forward to sleeping on the plane ride home on Saturday.

In the long run it is worth it of course. I am learning a lot of good things and meeting a lot of interesting people. There are 6000 people from around the world at this event and I have made some good contacts and added friends to my Facebook account. Last week was a smaller group of people and there I met new people but also reconnected with people I know from previous meetings. There are people from South America and South Africa, Japan, China, England and all over eastern and western Europe. It’s pretty cool actually.

Tomorrow I will hear Bill Gates talk to the conference and that should be interesting. But you know, part of me would like to go home tonight.

So did you see me interviewed on the web?

Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

OK it’s short, very short, the whole clip is less than 2 minutes and I’m one of about four or five people in it. But for those of you who don’t know me in person or who haven’t seen me in a while – here I am. 🙂

The rest of the Channel 8 web site is more interesting.

Bill Gates Last Day At Microsoft

Monday, January 7th, 2008

Bill Gates Last Day CES Clip
Bill Gates Last Day CES Clip

Office Offline

Wednesday, November 7th, 2007

I just came across a new web comic site/blog called Office Offline. Very simple and very funny. It’s geek humor of course. And mostly around Microsoft Office products which is not so surprising since the cartoonist works in Microsoft’s Office Online group as a writer.

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Good news Bad news

Tuesday, November 6th, 2007

I read with some interest that the CIO of Microsoft was let go. This was apparently because he violated company policies. Now on first glance this sounds bad. After all it is not good when someone who is a corporate VP gets fired. On the other hand I find it refreshing that the rules apply to him.

I am sick of hearing about cases where people get to a certain level and start feeling that the rules just apply to other people. At some places people get away with that sort of thing. We’ll avoid the obvious examples from government and some not so obvious examples from companies where I have worked in the past.

Now I don’t know what policies he violated. And I’d rather not speculate. But if CVPs can lose their job over violations of the company’s rules it is a clear sign that people can be held responsible even if they are high up. Somehow that makes me feel safer.