Jason Chee

Microsoft’s annual developer conference, Build, begun earlier today with some fantastic announcements to Windows 10 during the opening keynote. Here are some highlights for me. Linux will be integrated into Windows 10. You won’t see the Ubuntu desktop UI, but tools like bash will be made available and this will aid open-source developers by presenting them a familiar environment. Windows 10 is poised to be the best platform for development work, even for developing for other platforms. Announced during last year’s Build, Project Centennial will be released soon and will allow developers to repackage their program as a modern Windows app. This lets them submit their app to the Windows Store, creating a one-stop portal for users to download programs, including games like Witcher 3 and Age of Empires 2. With some code additions, the .NET or Win32 application will also be able to leverage modern APIs such as Live Tiles too, and will remain backward compatible with previous versions of Windows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4XHCg1NxzM As part of the Windows 10 “OneCore” family, Xbox will soon be opened to app developers to deploy their Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps. Previously, developers would need a special Xbox to deploy on. Soon, all retail Xboxes will have the ability to enter (and exit) a Developer mode where you can remote deploy apps to via Visual Studio. Windows Store will also be merged with the Xbox to bring the familiar Store experience to the entertainment console. Microsoft HoloLens Dev Kits start shipping to developers who managed to apply for one. Examples of how the HoloLens can impact lives include medical students interacting with a 3D model of human anatomy, receiving input from another user offsite. NASA has also set up a “Destination Mars” tour with HoloLens that will be featured in Kennedy Space Center, allowing visitors to experience Mars with 3D guides such as the likeness of Buzz Aldrin. Satya brought up bots with a poke at Tay – “we want to build technology such that it gets the best of humanity, not the worst”. Major improvements to Cortana, the Windows 10 personal assistant, were shown including her inclusion onto the lock screen and Outlook, as well as the ability to push text messages from mobile (not just Windows Phone) to the desktop and let the user respond. Bots are now coming to Skype too – Cortana will be integrated in a way that allows users to message her just like a personal assistant. She’ll be able to discover and pass information to other bots, including contextual information so the users don’t have to repeat themselves. Examples demonstrated included a courier bot letting the user know a package was on the way, letting Cortana track its whereabouts, and asking for a place to stay connected the user to a Westin Hotel bot. Next, the new Microsoft Bot Framework was demonstrated, allowing developers to create their own bots that can interact with users via text messaging, Twitter, Skype, Office 365, Telegram, and more. Developers can easily create rules to teach the bot how to understand and serve users better, and hand off more complex requests to a human assistant. Finally, Microsoft’s Project Oxford has now graduated to Microsoft Cognitive Services, bringing 22 Machine Learning APIs in categories such as Vision, Speech, and Language, Knowledge, and Search – allowing developers to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence such as breaking down an image and describing the scene (e.g. a man doing a trick on a skateboard). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2mC-NUAmMk We have two Microsoft Student Partners from Singapore over at Build today, look out for their post on Spiffy when they get back to share their newfound knowledge and experience! Also check out what The Verge’s thinks are the 10 most important announcements at Build.

PRESIDENT TONY TAN LAUNCHES 16th PRESIDENT’S CHALLENGE AT MICROSOFT’S WE TECH CARE 2016 EVENT Held in support of President’s Challenge, We Tech Care rallied over 200 people from local startups, non-profits and partner organisations, and Microsoft to showcase the power of technology in creating a smarter and more inclusive Singapore Singapore, 12 March 2016 – President Tony Tan Keng Yam officially launched the 16th President’s Challenge today at Microsoft’s We Tech Care 2016 event with strong support from the technology community. Aligned with Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and organisation on the planet to achieve more, We Tech Care 2016 goes beyond regular fund-raising to rally the local startup community, non-profit organisations, Microsoft partners and employees to collectively showcase the power of technology in creating a smarter and more inclusive Singapore. In addition to the over 200 volunteers from startups, non-profits and partner organisations, as well as Microsoft, the event saw close to 600 beneficiaries and members of the public participating in We Tech Care 2016. Held at JTC LaunchPad @ one-north, a vibrant and exciting co-working space for local startups, the half-day event created opportunities for people of all ages to learn coding and computing through IT workshops and talks; connect the current generation of innovators with the next through startup discovery tours; raise awareness of innovative technologies that can help solve societal issues; support digital inclusion programmes through partnerships with non-profit organisations; and foster Microsoft employees’ skill-based volunteering efforts. As part of the programme, President Tony Tan kicked off the 16th President’s Challenge this year in a launch ceremony. In his speech, he highlighted that since 2000, the President’s Challenge has evolved beyond financial support to address today’s social needs, which are more complex and social in nature. One example is bridging the digital gap of marginalised groups for them to keep up with the mainstream. By channeling more resources to address these gaps, the President’s Challenge hopes to provide them with the support, skills and confidence to lead dignified and meaningful lives. The President’s Challenge also promotes community interaction and integration. It looks to more public, private and people partnerships to help build a better support ecosystem in the community. Funds raised through this year’s President’s Challenge will be channeled to 57 beneficiaries across various sectors (See Annex B). Going beyond fund-raising, it rallies Singaporeans to not just pool together financial resources, but also time and skills. President’s Challenge also aims to boost senior volunteerism as a valuable community resource with the President’s Challenge Silver Volunteer Fund (SVF), which was announced last year. In 2016, for every S$10 donated to President’s Challenge, S$2 will be channeled to the SVF. The government will match dollar-for-dollar donations to the SVF, capped at S$20 million. We Tech Care 2016 marks the start of Microsoft’s fund-raising activities in support of the 16th President’s Challenge, which raised a total of S$268,963 from Microsoft and its employees, partners and members of the public. President Tan accepted the donation cheque from Microsoft on behalf of President’s Challenge and other charities supported by Microsoft. He also met with Microsoft employees, partners, startups, non-profit organisation volunteers, as well as beneficiaries as he toured the event’s premises and participated in the day’s activities. “At Microsoft, we believe technology can empower every person and organisation to achieve more. That is why, in addition to raising funds for the 16th President’s Challenge, we are focused on empowering people across all ages with technology, with a particular emphasis on equipping the elderly and disadvantaged groups with technology skills to help them make a real impact for a smarter and more inclusive Singapore. By contributing what Microsoft knows and does best, we are heartened to see that close to 2,200 people with disabilities and 22,461 seniors have been equipped with practical IT skills. In the last two years, 55 people with disabilities have also been trained with vocational IT skills and 19 of them have gone on to find job opportunities in IT-related fields as a result,” said Ms Jessica Tan, Managing Director, Microsoft Singapore. “As Singapore works towards building the world’s first Smart Nation, technology will no doubt have a greater role in the lives of everyone living here. We are grateful for Microsoft Singapore’s continued support through President’s Challenge in making technology accessible to people with disabilities so that they are not left behind,” said Mr Abhimanyau Pal, Executive Director, SPD. “As a Microsoft YouthSpark Scholarship recipient, I am really thankful for the scholarship as it allows me to focus on my studies without worrying about my school expenses. With SPD and Microsoft’s support, I can now pursue a Diploma in Business Information Technology, with hopes of becoming a software developer in future to develop technological applications to help persons with disabilities,” said Mr Mohamed Najulah, Microsoft YouthSpark Scholarship 2015 Recipient. “RSVP is proud to partner Microsoft in its We Tech Care initiative. We want to see more and more seniors use IT in their daily lives. This is in line with government’s drive to create a Smart Nation for all,” said Mr Koh Juay Meng, President, RSVP Singapore. “As a volunteer with RSVP, I enjoy being able to use my IT skills to assist and empower seniors, providing them with a doorway to the wider digital world that can improve their quality of life; from free information to easily available entertainment. This has given me an immense sense of fulfilment and purpose which has helped ease my transition from work to retirement,” said Mr Ong Han Min, RSVP Volunteer. “At Guide Dogs Association of the Blind, we work tirelessly to empower people who are visually impaired to live full and independent livee through the gift of mobility – the simple right to be able to get around. In support of our orientation and mobility training and the provision of guide dogs in Singapore, we value our strong partnership with Microsoft – a partnership that through the Cities Unlocked programme seeks to leverage technological advancements to further advance our cause,” said Mr Amos Miller, Chairman, Guide Dogs Association of the Blind Singapore. “Partnering Microsoft for the We Tech Care 2016 event is a terrific opportunity for a health- tech company like Jaga-Me, as we bring top-quality nursing to homes on-demand. Besides showcasing our latest solutions at the event, we are also delighted to be able to meet non-profit organisations such as SPD and RSVP, who are making a difference in our local communities by helping the elderly and people with disabilities,” said Mr Julian Koo, CEO, Jaga-Me. Since 2002, Microsoft has tirelessly rallied support from its extensive partner ecosystem and communities in support of President’s Challenge. The total value of cash raised and software donated by Microsoft, employees and partners for the President’s Challenge and its beneficiaries from 2006 is estimated at over S$4 million. This year’s We Tech Care was made possible through the generosity and support of Gold Sponsors - Accenture Technology Solutions Pte Ltd and Avanade Asia Pte Ltd; and Bronze Sponsors - Challenger Technologies Ltd, Datapulse Technology Limited, and Dimension Data (Singapore) Pte Ltd. In-kind corporate contribution was also provided by Embrya and JTC Corporation. For more information, visit www.microsoft.com/singapore/WeTechCare and www.pc.org.sg.

Greetings! I’m Jason, the Program Lead for Microsoft Student Partners Singapore. It’s been a few months since the last summary of events, the last one being in October. I’d like to highlight a selection of events our fine MSPs have organized or contributed to in the months since. November saw the launch of one of the most anticipated products in 2015 – the Surface Pro 4. Our MSPs were given the chance to attend the very exclusive Media and Influencers Event, where one of us won the coveted Surface Pro 4 in a lucky draw contest! This win was reminiscent of the local Windows 10 Launch in July where two of our MSPs clinched the top prizes – a Surface Pro 3 and Surface 3. Next, our MSPs in Nanyang Polytechnic pushed our evangelism efforts to their campus and held a DreamSpark, Azure, and Office 365 workshop for their peers. This workshop spanned two lecture halls and saw students setting up an online resume for free. Our November monthly meet-up had us challenging ourselves through two Escape Room challenges in Clarke Quay. We formed teams and proceeded to overcome various puzzles – emerging triumphant… Mostly. December was a slower month being a school holiday for most of us. With many MSPs migrating for the winter or hibernating (in hot, tropical Singapore), we put our evangelism efforts on hold and held an amazing Christmas party at the Microsoft office. Our party had a treasure hunt, lavish Christmas buffet with a chocolate fondue, Star Wars, and various games – truly a day to remember. In January, our two ebullient MSPs from National University of Singapore took over a lecture hall to pitch DreamSpark and Azure. They distributed freebies such as t-shirts to the excited students. Temasek Polytechnic MSPs organized an event where staff from Microsoft could share about DreamSpark, Azure, Windows 10, Office 365, and their experiences on working in the tech industry. Finally, MSPs from Nanyang Technological University ran an Xbox booth during their School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering’s “EEE Week”, the allure of Kinect giving their schoolmates the impetus to unwind in the swank indulgence of dance and virtual sports. ...

October was a big month for the Microsoft Student Partners as Microsoft Singapore launched its inaugural “Campus Surprise” event across 8 different tertiary education institutes. Through strong publicity efforts, the MSPs reached out to around 50,000 of their peers in Singapore and conducted a multitude of Windows 10 demos and upgrades over the two weeks run. Run by MSPs in the individual campuses, several ingenious ways of attracting the public were devised including an Escape Room based on Microsoft technologies, Sway, gaming benches and more. Among the technologies featured were Windows 10, Xbox, Continuum, Office 365, DreamSpark, and Azure. All in all, Campus Surprise was a success and helped to drive awareness of Microsoft’s products, services, and offers for students. Loads of preparation went into Campus Surprise with the MSPs having to attend several Train-the-Trainer sessions held at Microsoft Singapore. They also had to liaise with their institutions to secure locations. We’ve all learnt a lot this round and can’t wait for another successful run next year! ...

It’s been an exciting September for the Microsoft Student Partners in Singapore! Energized from a rewarding outing in August where they were treated with a trip to Adventure Cove Waterpark - a theme park in Singapore, the MSPs ran a myriad of events in September. On the 2nd of September, MSPs volunteered at TechFemme 2015, an event that aims to empower women in technology. The MSPs helped to usher the participants and evangelized about the Microsoft Surface, Xbox One, and Microsoft Office. Their involvement greatly influenced the successful run of the event especially since they had the arduous task of moving the massive Xbox kiosks across buildings as the event spanned different areas as the day progressed. The next day, Singapore MSPs were involved in the Microsoft AHQ Kickoff for FY16. Donovan Cho went up on stage to give a heartwarming speech about his experience and passion for Microsoft as a true fan of Windows 10 and as a Microsoft Student Partner. Next, Jason Chee - Microsoft Student Partner of the Year - was interviewed live on stage by Jeff Bullwinkel, Associate General Counsel for APJ. He shared about how he had started his Microsoft journey (you can read more about that here) and on the plethora of programs Microsoft offers to students to help every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Next, on the 9th of September, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore held an event called Young Tech Fest which saw students across many educational institutes coming down to try their hand at code and learn more about technology. Microsoft had a booth to showcase our products such as the Microsoft Surface, Xbox One, and Windows 10. The MSPs were on-site to help market Microsoft’s technologies and ran workshops on Kodu, DreamSpark, and Azure Student Benefit. Lastly, Microsoft ran the monthly MSP Meet Up on the 12th of September where the latest information about the program was shared. One of the MSP Alumni, Danish Lukawski, popped by to give a talk on how to “Be Your Brand and Tell Your Story”. Also, one of the MSPs, David Lim, gave a sharing session on Developing for Kinect v2. We have a lot of events lined up for October and we can’t wait to share them with you next month!

Interested in developing for Windows 10? You should be - developing for Windows 10 is as good as developing for 6 different platforms - PC, Mobile, Xbox, Devices + IoT, Surface Hub, and Holographic. Since Windows 10 launched in late July, it has already been installed on more than 110 million devices and as a free upgrade from earlier versions of Windows, that number is only going to increase. Microsoft has created a series titled “Windows 10 Development for Absolute Beginners” on Channel 9 where you can learn how to get started on your app. The description is as follows: ...

Today, Microsoft introduced a new lineup of devices that, together with Windows 10, give people the powerful, magical experiences necessary to do great things. Among these devices was the Surface Pro 4 which will be available in Singapore starting November 19. Pre-orders for the Surface Pro 4 will commence starting October 7 on the Microsoft Store. There will be a limited pre-order price period till 18 October 2015. Courts, Challenger, Harvey Norman and Newstead will also be conducting in-store pre-order programs in the coming weeks. Please check in-stores for more information. Local availabilities for the other devices announced will be shared closer to launch. Meet Surface Pro 4, the tablet that can replace your laptop. Featuring Windows 10 Pro, 6th Generation Intel® Core™ m, Core™ i5 and Core™ i7 processors, and a 12.3-inch PixelSense™ Display, Surface Pro 4 helps you power through everything you need to do. Starting at just S$1388, it’s thinner, lighter and faster than any previous Surface Pro model. ...

Last night, Microsoft held a Windows 10 Devices Event which saw new Surface devices, three new Lumia phones and the Microsoft Band 2 being announced. The devices take advantage of powerful and versatile hardware to unlock new Windows 10 experiences, including fast and secured login with Windows Hello; improved touch and pen experiences on Surface; and Continuum for phones, which enables the new Lumia 950 and 950 XL phones to work like PCs. Showcasing the innovation possible with Windows 10, Microsoft also shared new gaming experiences from Xbox and new details on Microsoft HoloLens, the first fully untethered holographic computer. Now running on 110 million devices around the world, Windows 10 is off to the fastest start in history — seeing upgrades at three times the rate of Windows 7 in the same time period. With more than 1.25 billion visits to the Windows Store, Microsoft announced all-new universal apps for Windows 10, including Box, Facebook, Instagram, Candy Crush Soda Saga, Flipagram, Uber, and others. These apps add to the existing Windows 10 experiences that will be available on the new Microsoft devices. “With Windows 10 and these new Microsoft devices, you are at the center of magical new experiences,” said Satya Nadella, chief executive officer of Microsoft. “We’re moving people from needing to choosing to loving Windows, and these devices promise to fuel even more enthusiasm and opportunity for the entire Windows ecosystem.” ...

This year’s Splash Awards organized by Singapore Computer Society saw many brilliant student teams compete against each other in pre-tertiary and tertiary categories, across various sub-themes including “Pride in Every Job”, “Success: Unlimited”, “Right Choice, Bright Future”, and “School & Family: One Team”. In its 12th year, the Splash Awards’ objective is to spur interest in Infocomm amongst students, provide students with an opportunity to gain exposure and knowledge on application development, gain experience and prepare for the industry, and encourage innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship through application development and possibilities. In total, there were 86 competing teams made up of more than 214 students. The Finals and Talent Showcase was held on the 24th of August and graced by Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah. After months of hard work, the following teams received the Merit Prize in the Pre-Tertiary category: ...

I was elated to receive an invite to the Xbox FanFest 2015 for the 9th of September this year and have the opportunity to see the scores of games and amazing things coming to Xbox this year. The Ground Theatre at *SCAPE was transformed into a den of green, with rows of Xboxes set up for gamers to have an early peek at some of the big titles heading to Xbox. Games that were showcased include the action packed Rise of the Tomb Raider, Just Dance 2016 - the latest installment in the series, the vintage looking Cuphead, Gigantic - a MOBA game that works across Xbox One and Windows 10, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, Earth Wars, NBA2K16, FIFA16 and what is probably the crowd and my favorite, Halo 5. Codenamed Osiris after Fireteam Osiris, one of the teams you play as in Halo 5, a full row of Xbox Ones were set up on the upper deck to allow gamers to try out the multiplayer experience. Dave “Walshy” Walsh, a professional esports gamer in the Halo scene was also present. He was on stage with others from 343 Industries such as Franchise Development Director for Halo Frank O’Connor to announce the Halo World Championship that would net the winner 1 million dollars. Walshy recounted how he had in his earlier days taken part in a school competition that got him a few hundred dollars. It is interesting to see the esports gaming scene becoming increasingly prominent, with tournaments like Dota 2 International sporting a USD 6.5m grand prize in August. Games were not the only things that were showcased - 2 limited edition consoles based on the upcoming Halo 5 and now released Forza 6 were on display. The two consoles feature special sounds for startup, shutdown, and when ejecting a disc, along with a specially designed controller. Finally, the consoles will include digital copies of the games they are based on, including some exclusives and DLC. The Forza 6 console is now available at S$639 and the Halo 5 console will be available October 20th at S$739. The Xbox One Elite Controller was also showcased, featuring interchangeable paddles and rubberized diamond grip, adjustable trigger locks and swappable thumbsticks and D-pad. It will be bundled with the Xbox One Elite Console coming later this year with a matte finish, and will have 1TB of storage capacity and feature SSHD storage media compared to HDDs in previous iterations - meaning we can expect the see the console about 20% faster. The long awaited EA Access was also mentioned, it previously not being available in the Singapore market. EA Access is a service exclusive to Xbox One that is subscription based and allows members to play all EA games early, get great discounts on the games and DLCs, and access certain EA games for free in The Vault. Backward compatibility to play Xbox 360 games on the Xbox One was announced to be coming in November - it’s probably now a good time to sell off any old Xbox 360s! Photos: http://1drv.ms/1LkjUKx