Partner Otaku

The Windows Sensor and Location platform, enables your applications to adapt to their current environment. Sensors would include GPS devices, WWAN etc. — your applications and gadgets can know exactly where they are, enabling them to provide more locally relevant content and functionality.

Michael Scherotter, a Media Experience Evangelist at Microsoft created an easy way for Expression Blend users to design applications that use sensors. Please visit the Synergist for more information.

Link: http://bit.ly/cZBcug

When I speak with partners, they often express exasperation in trying to find information on our websites. I can empathize with that frustration. It’s difficult for me to find useful information as well.  That’s why I wanted to point you to to Bruno Terkaly’s Blog that has a list of resources, tools and downloads  (i.e. Silverlight, WPF, Videos, HOL etc.) .  Bruno is a great Developer Evangelist based in Northern California and I encourage you to visit his site. If you attended the Silicon Valle Pro Dev Briefing earlier this month, he was the presenter for the Live Mesh Platform Services Discussion.

One of our initiatives at Microsoft this year is focused on the client.  When I joined Microsoft over 17 years ago, one of my primary jobs at Microsoft was evangelizing Windows. It was in the DNA of all us in the field. We demoed, demoed and demoed some more.  It’s hard to imagine that the sigma button (sum) on the tool bar was revolutionary.

Today, with advances in both processor, GPU and the evolution of the .NET framework, we’re able to see innovative new applications. One such XBAP (WPF Browser Application) application is called Turning the Pages by Armadillo Systems.  The British Library makes available 19 very rare items that would be normally very difficult to get access to peruse.  Hear are a couple screen shots to whet your appetite and click here to check it out.

Ok if you’re as old as I am, you might remember MC Hammer – the guy with the big parachute pants singing “You Can’t Touch This”. Well it looks like he showed up at TechCrunch 50 checking out Surface.

If you’re thinking about or interested in using Windows Presentation Foundation here are a few links you might find useful:

Reference Sample Application:

Three Day On-Line Training:

Whitepaper on designer/developer collaboration: