Microsoft
Windows 8 Unveiled – Here’s a sneak peak!
AshMan Says…
Windows 7 has been a resounding success for Microsoft and for their customers all over the world including students, home consumers and businesses. Windows 7 has been the fastest selling operating system in history and is predicted to overtake the reigning Windows XP as the most widely used operating system.
Windows 8 Touch Start Screen
Eventhough Windows 7 seems quite young, this is technology we are talking about and technology moves fast. So as we are just getting used to Windows 7 on our machines Microsoft has been kind enough to provide a sneak peak at what the next version of Windows will look like. Microsoft and most people are calling the new version by its codename which is Windows 8.
Windows 8 Touch Lock Screen
Windows 8 Side Keyboard Layout
Internet Explorer 10 on Windows 8
Windows 8 brings a new way for consumers to interact with the operating system. The most notable change is the new touch layer for tablet/slate devices called the immersive interface. But why keep writing when I know you want to see the demo for yourself?
SmackDown 2010… it’s a wrap!!!
Over 300 attendees were hosted in the QUT Gardens Point, Brisbane auditorium where they were entranced by keynote addresses and interactive demonstrations from:
- Michael Kordahi – Future of Computing,
- Jorke Odolphi – Windows Phone 7 and Developing Across Xbox 360, Windows Phone 7 and PC,
- Ashley Perkins – Imagine Cup and Dreamspark, and
- Adam Pollington – Xbox 360 Kinect.
Sponsors including Microsoft and Plantronics contributed to an awesome prize pool of over $3600 that saw some extremely fortunate attendees leave with everything from an Xbox 360 S to new release games, Office 2010 Professional software, keyboards and the most amazing GameCom headsets.
Free pizza and refreshments rounded out the afternoon of course!
The brainchild of Microsoft Student Partner and QUT student Ashley Perkins, the event was the culmination of many months of planning to bring the world of technology closer to students of school and university age in a fun setting and its inaugural success has everyone asking for more in the future!
Some posted feedback includes:
Jmintouch33: @ashmansays great presenters – amazing insights. Thanks from our jpc group. Enjoyed #smackdown2010 . We will be back next year! Congrats
Alegrya: Great fun time had at #SmackDown2010 today! Huge thanks to @AshManSays for organising such a top event
MrsAngell: Thanks @AshManSays for a fantastic time and lots of prizes at #smackdown2010
On3thousandwords: @ashmansays – #Kinect <b>IS</b> awesome #SmackDown2010 ^_^
Alegrya: 100m versus sprint on Kinect, hilarious #SmackDown2010
Themolk: Kinect Sports demo WIN! #SmackDown2010
Kiayyy: #smackdown2010 I love kinect
RSTrends: DreamSpark is pretty good, very good for dev. #smackdown2010
jackmarrows: I want to enter the imagine cup. Looks fun. #smackdown2010
jackmarrows: Wow visual studio takes the coding out of coding an app for windows 7 phone. 10 lines of code. Uses C# #smackdown2010
Cameron Parrish: QUT Smackdown 2010 with Ashley Perkins was ridiculous fun! it should be an annual event!
SmackDown 2010… it’s a wrap!!!
Below is a video compilation of SmackDown 2010:
1 Million Kinect Sensors Sold in 10 Days
AshMan says…
Since it’s launch 10 Days ago the Kinect Sensor for the Xbox 360, has sold 1 million of them just in time for the silly season.
The sales figures only cover what has been sold in America, and with other launches around the world to be happening in the next week it will be interesting to see how many Microsoft do sell in the lead up to Christmas. Microsoft has said it is confident that is will sell around 5 million by the end of the year, which as a goal looks achievable with customers excited about being able to ditch the controller completely.
Kinect launches in Australia on November 18 at all major retailers with a RRP of $199 bundled with Kinect Adventures.
Announcing SmackDown Speaker – Michael Kordahi
AshMan says…
I am extremely excited to announce one of the speakers which will be talking to students at SmackDown – Supported by Microsoft. He is Michael Kordahi!
So who is Michael Kordahi (aka. Delicate Genius)?
Michael Kordahi is a Developer Evangelist for Microsoft Australia. He has a strong background in web development and now focuses on working with passionate early adopters of Microsoft’s emerging web technologies.
Michael blogs regularly on his blog at delicategenius.com as well as keeping the twitterverse updated on his twitter at @delic8genius.
One of his recent talks can be seen below, as a preview for this great guy!
So if you haven’t registered already for SmackDown – Supported by Microsoft on Wednesday the 27th of October 12pm @ QUT Gardens Points make sure you head over to smakdown2010.eventbrite.com!
It’s almost here! SmackDown – Support by Microsoft
AshMan says…
SmackDown – Supported by Microsoft is creeping closer and if you haven’t registered for this FREE event, you are going to miss out!
If you need convincing to come to SmackDown here are a few reasons why you should come:
- See the latest technology from Microsoft including Kinect for Xbox 360!
- Find out how you can develop apps yourself using professional developer software for FREE as a student!
- See awesome Microsoft Developer Staff present!
- FREE FOOD!
- AWESOME PRIZES!
So if you’re into awesome tech, developing, free food and awesome prizes (any mix acceptable!) well this is your event!
- When? Wednesday 27th October 2010 12pm – 2pm
- Where? QUT Gardens Point Z Block Room 411
- Cost? FREE
Registering for this free event is essential, so visit smackdown2010.eventbrite.com to register!
See you there!
Microsoft Student Film Festival 2010
Thanks to the bright sparks at Microsoft we now have another Student competition for us to sink our teeth into.
“We want you to make a short film. If you’ve got a favourite style or genre, we want you to embrace it! If you want to be a writer, director, actor, cinematographer or even sound engineer, then rise to your ambitions.
In support of young Australian talent, Microsoft wants to give students the opportunity to gain industry exposure and go head to head, film to film, against University, College and TAFE students Australia wide – with some pretty awesome prizes in the mix. “
Go now and check it out, while you’re at it have a look at the awesome prizes and tell your friends.
Windows Phone 7 ROM Leaked!
AshMan says…
XDA-Developers have posted news that one of their forum members has been able to dump the ROM from an upcoming HTC Device named Mondrian.
Seeing some videos of the new Windows Phone 7 and test driving the operating system through an emulator is nice and already gets the discussions and speculations flowing.
What most XDA-Developers followers really are waiting for is a full fledged ROM, that magically appears out of nothing.
Wait no more, because member 911sniper posted a Windows Phone 7 ROM from a HTC device named theHTC Mondrian.
The posting of the ROM is so fresh out the oven that at this point there’s not a lot of concrete information about either the device or the ROM itself. But it is certainly good news, knowing that developers and cooks are sharpening their knives to cut it to pieces and find out as much as possible about it.Originally posted by 911sniper
Model: HTC Mondrian (Cingular USA)
AKU: WindowsMobile_7_AKU_6176
Language: 0409_WWEHappy cooking!
At the moment it is clear that the known tools most chefs use, will not work without modifications. XDA developer and moderator Da_G already dumped the ROM with his currently private NBHImageTool which allows dumping unsigned ROMs.
If you’re dying to find out what the real low-down is on Microsoft’s operating system and HTC’s new device, head on over to the original thread to stay in the loop of the latest finds.
Make sure to keep an eye on the XDA-Portal, we will keep you updated with the latest information from the developers and chefs!
Win a Share House Courtesy of Microsoft!
AshMan says…
Do you want to live rent free in a property which costs up to $1500 per week for 7 Months? Do you also want it to be decked out in awesome technology? Well Microsoft has a competition for you!!! Head over to facebook.com/TheStudentHouse for entry details!
Windows Phone 7 Series is here!
AshMan says…
At the Mobile World Congress Microsoft revealed the much anticipated latest release of Windows Phone/Mobile (whatever you want to call it). This particular version has been considered long over due by many users. Windows Phone 7 had also been delayed numerous times, and also the original version of WP7 was scrapped completely and a rework was created.
The new OS is a completely different approach to any other phone operating system including older versions of Windows Mobile. WP7 moves to a tile based menu/group of icons which can be customised by the user with contacts or applications.
From the various demo’s which have been uploaded to the internet shows WP7 to be a very responsive and pleasant experience. This is helped by the applications like the contacts application to be loaded like a panoramic image which the user creates gestures to move across the menu.
A big announcement for the OS was the integration of the Xbox Live service and the ability to have your avatar and gamerscore available on your device. At the event they also mentioned the ability to play online with users around the world on other WP7 devices, PC’s and Xbox 360′s, which means that it will be interesting how the experience will be for all users across the platforms.
Microsoft is also taking a stronger position on the hardware which its partners are producing, by creating a list of requirements which each device must have including for touch based devices a large capacitive screen, minimum 5 mega-pixel camera with LED flash and three dedicated hardware buttons (back, home and Bing search). This means a more consistent user experience across all devices available.
With all of this announced Windows Phone 7 Series is looking to be a very strong competitor in the mobile arena, and be sure to look out for more info at Mix2010 coming soon.
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