October 2008 - Posts
Microsoft Research
Microsoft Research highlighted in the keynote some of the key projects they're busy with.
- SensorMap is an innovation that helps to collect data through the strategic positioning of sensors. It is currently for instance being used in the Swiss Alps to obtain better visualization of the effect of global warming.
- WorldWide Telescope brings together imagery from the best ground and space-based telescopes in the world for a seamless exploration of the universe. The next version, Equinox Beta, has been released and allows for a 3D exploration of the universe. A demo was shown during the keynote - truly amazing, mesmerizing!
- Boku is a visual programming tool for children. I think adults will equally enjoy this:-) You "write code" using an XBox game controller.
- SecondLight, the technology following Microsoft Surface, allows one to work with objects hovering above the Surface. It opens up exciting possibilities.
C# 4.0
The session was presented by Anders Hejlsberg, and as always, it was such a pleasure to listen to him.
The key focus areas of the different C# language versions, make it easier to appreciate C# 4.0.
- C# v.1 - Managed code
- C# v.2 - Generics
- C# v.3 - LINQ
- C# v.4 - Dynamic Programming (and I can already see the Python and Ruby developers smile :-))
Hence, the key enhancements in C#4 are:
- Dynamically typed objects - IronRuby, IronPython, but also dynamic support in C# and VB.NET
- Optional and named parameters, which, for long, was the prerogative of Visual Basic developer
- Improved COM interoperability will be great news for managed developers interoping with the Microsoft Office API's
Check out the CSharp page, as well as the C# Futures page for discussions, and samples.
Anders also showed a future feature that may become available in some future release of C#, not necessarily C# 4, called "Compiler as Service". This will allow a developer to interact with the compiler directly from code, for instance sending dynamically constructed pieces of code to the compiler, to be compiled and executed. An implementation example of this feature is an interactive development environment.
That was day 3!
It was a busy day, full of exciting announcements!
Windows 7
Windows 7, the next version of the Windows Client operating system, will be focusing on streamlining common desktop and consumer management tasks. Some random features:
- The taskbar, showing open and available applications, has been redesigned with a lot more power.
- Gadgets are no longer restricted to one area of the desktop. Individual gadgets can now be placed anywhere on the desktop.
- Windows applications like Paint and WordPad have now be ribbonized. Looks just fantastic!
- WordPad will support the Open Document Format (ODF). The Start Menu is now an easy place to start recently accessed documents, per application - called Jump lists.
- Windows 7 will have reduced memory requirements, and increased boot speed and responsiveness.
- Users will be able to apply Bitlocker encryption to a memory stick.
- Disk Management Console will allow you to create and attach virtual machines. It even sounded like you could select one of these VHD's to boot from!
- Users will be able configure if and how User Access Control messages are displayed, to be, for instance, less intrusive.
I can't wait to install and play with this version of Windows! A beta version will be available in early 2009.
Visual Studio
WPF Toolkit including V1 of DataGrid, V1 of DatePicker/Calendar, & preview of VisualStateManager (VSM) was released this week.
Silverlight Toolkit is also shipping today, including controls to support charting (static and animated), treeview, dockpanel and viewbox. Developers will have access to the source code, to customize as needed. Silverlight will in future have out-of-the-browser support (no time line announced). Silverlight 2 for Mobile was announced. It will support the same feature set as Silverlight 2 (for desktop) which means that the same Silverlight application will be to run on both the desktop browser and mobile browser. A public CTP of Silverlight 2 for mobile should be available beginning 2009. There will be support not only for Windows Mobile, but also for Symbian.
The IDE of the next version of Visual Studio (2010) will be written in WPF, will have built-in support for jQuery and will have multi-monitor support.
IIS Smooth Streaming, a new extension for Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0, enables adaptive streaming of media to Silverlight clients via HTTP. Smooth Streaming dynamically detects and seamlessly switches, in real time, the video quality of a media file that a Silverlight player receives based on local bandwidth and CPU conditions. Consumers with high bandwidth connections can experience HD quality streaming while others with lower bandwidth speeds receive the appropriate stream for their connectivity, allowing consumers across the board to enjoy a consistent high quality streaming experience.
Live Services
Live Mesh, the ability to synchronize data between a variety of devices, will in future be part of Live Services (http://mesh.com). The Live Operating Environment will encapsulate the full collection of Live Services.
Office 14
The codename for Office 2007 was Office 12. Microsoft skipped Office 13:-), for obvious reasons.
Incredible announcement - "Office Web Applications"! The next version of Office will have a browser presence, complete with editing and ribbon capabilities. It will support Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote, and will run in Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.
http://www.microsoftpdc.com
Windows Azure
The keynote was all about Windows Azure - http://www.betanews.com/article/PDC_2008_Windows_Azure_is_Microsofts_cloudbased_hosting_service/1225123288
You know Windows Desktop and Windows Server. Now, there is Windows Azure. But, stop! It doesn't come on a CD you can install on a box. Rather, it's a framework from Microsoft in which you can have your applications hosted (Azure Services Platform), while using services that Microsoft has already made available. Microsoft will host your application on their data centres, and provide you with all the necessary scale and availability that you might need, including an SLA. And, these applications are not limited to web applications.
The easiest way to interact with this platform, will be through Visual Studio. However, it will also be available from other environments like Python, Ruby, Eclipse, etc.
Get your hands on the SDK, http://www.microsoft.com/azure
The first Azure-aware application - a social networking application.
Dublin
In the increasingly service-oriented world we live in, there is the need for services to be more and more scalable and manageable.
Dublin is a set of features to enhance the service hosting capabilities of Windows Server, mainly through a set of WCF and WF improvements. Currently, it will be available as a separate download. In the future, it will ship as part of the next Server OS.
Go to http://www.microsoft.com/net/Dublin.aspx for more.
ASP.NET 4.0
The ASP.NET site will remain the space for official releases. However, Codeplex will in future be used to make new features much faster available. Go check it out. New stuff has been released today. Here are some of the new features:
Web forms:
- Control the Client ID's of your controls
- URL Routing now supports configuration model
- More granular control of view-state
MVC:
- Support for dynamic data and AJAX
Dynamic Data:
- Support for ADO.NET Data Services
- Support extended beyond LINQ to SQL and LINQ to Entities
AJAX:
- AJAX Control Toolkit now moving into ASP.NET (the official product), with Microsoft support, adding more controls
- AJAX Templates and data-binding makes in possible to create pure client-side code through declarative coding
- AJAX History supported
That was Day 1!
And we got to play with Microsoft Surface. Fascinating!
Ahmed and I, from Microsoft South Africa. We're where it's all about to happen, PDC 2008 in Los Angeles. I sincerely apologize for making you green.
Arrived on Saturday. Had one night to get used to GMT+8, and stuff is already moving. I want to start something, I'm not sure whether I'll be able to finish. The schedule is packed: starting early morning and ending only much later in the evening - announcements, breakouts, labs, exhibitors, meetings, parties, ... For those not able to be here, I thought it maybe a good idea just to keep you posted. I'll do my best for a daily blog.
Day 0 - Sunday (PDC only starts tomorrow.)
Today, we registered, Ahmed showing the way. 6500+ attendees are expected.
We, along with some Microsoft customers and partners visited Hollywood. I even got the opportunity to get a hand on Charlize :-)
Hope to see you tomorrow, same time, same place. We expect some big technology announcements over the next few days.
Ja, ja, I know this is very short notice. But, I only got to know about the event yesterday ...
What might interest you as a developer, is that Microsoft has included two sessions on SQL 2008 Development between 11:00 and 13:00. Hence, if that is something you haven't seen yet, why not register and attend.
I guess most of you already know by now that Silverlight 2 has gone RTW. However, just in case you missed the exciting announcement ... It has arrived!
ACTION:
- Update your browser plug-in to the RTW release.
- Get all the relevant tools to develop Silverlight applications. You can also watch some training videos or do tutorials to get you going.
- NB! If you have existing Silverlight 2 Beta 2 applications, you will need to upgrade them to Silverlight 2 RTW. View the list of breaking changes.
Hope you have tremendous fun with Silverlight!
The Architect community in South Africa has redesigned their web site. Go check it out, and while you're there, why not also register!?
It had to happen! With our second Devs4Devs in Johannesburg happening on 18 Oct, presenters from other cities are also asking for an opportunity. So, here goes.
We've started planning our first Devs4Devs events in Cape Town and Durban. The concept is simple.
- Anyone can present. This is not an event for the experts. It's for developers with enough courage to share their knowledge with others.
- The topic can be on any Microsoft development.
- 20 minutes is allocated per session.
- If you're interested, give me your name and topic, by posting a comment to this blog entry. Also state the city (Cape Town or Durban) you will be presenting in.
- It all happens on a Saturday morning between 09:00 and 12:00.
I'll keep the agendas updated as topics are submitted. I'll also post the registration link, once the event opens for registration, so the rest of us can attend.
Agenda-as-it-grows (Cape Town):
- Nicholas Goossens - The buzzword puzzle: Web technology integration
- Riccardo Spagni - Pimp My GUI - Using WPF in LOB Applications
- Hans Appelo - Aggregating and Pivoting data
- Warren Pieterse - jQuery (+ MVC)
- Johan van Wyk - Fun with C# Generics
Agenda-as-it-grows (Durban):
- Willie Roberts - Windows Mobile 6.1: New Features Summary
- Justin Fourie - PowerShell
- Jackie Marstons - Topic to be announced
- Dion Beneke - SDLC in the real world
Registration has opened for these 2 events: