Events

JOIN YOUR PEERS for a hands-on, highly-interactive and engaging learning experience around Microsoft technologies and solutions. Have real-world discussions and work with technology experts and your peers to solve scenario-based problems. Date Topic More Details 16 Apr 2014 Managing your Datacenter with Windows Server 2012 R2 17 Apr 2014 Windows 8.1 in the Enterprise for IT Professionals 24 Apr 2014 Managing your Datacenter with Windows Server 2012 R2 25 Apr 2014 Moving to Hybrid Cloud with Windows Azure Virtual Machines & System Center 2012 R2

Innovate Faster and Reduce time to market.We will show you how developers can develop high quality applications in their day to day job, learn from experts in getting the right cloud development and test strategy when you need it and most importantly to enable instant provisioning with any amount of development and test resources that you have.We look forward to having you join us for this event! Time ...

Join us at our Microsoft IT Camp – Moving to Hybrid Cloud with Windows Azure Virtual Machines & System Center 2012 R2. Microsoft IT Camps are no cost, hands-on technical training events for IT professionals led by Microsoft experts. Attend the IT Camp: Moving to Hybrid Cloud with Windows Azure Virtual Machines & System Center 2012 R2 and learn how Microsoft’s Cloud OS technologies can provide an elastic infrastructure to transform your IT resources into a datacenter that is capable of handling the dynamic needs of enterprise businesses. This camp will focus on successfully configuring, monitoring, and managing operation of a hybrid cloud environment and provide a hands-on, interactive experience on how to integrate Windows Azure resources, such as virtual machines and storage, into an on-premises System Center 2012 R2 infrastructure. This camp will dive deep into the end-to-end process of connecting your System Center components to Windows Azure using operational aspects of DevOps as example scenarios. Date : 21 Mar 2014 Time : 9.00am to 5.00pm Venue : New Horizons Computer Learning Center 298 Tiong Bahru Road, Level 18 Central Plaza Singapore 168730 ...

This giant surface was spotted in the heart of London last Thursday. Located in Trafalgar Square, the 82-inch giant surface instantly became the centre of attraction amongst the other historic buildings in the area. Microsoft set up the 27-foot wide and 17-foot tall structure in just around 12 hours. [caption id=“dialogue” align=“alignnone” width=“570”] The Giant Surface 2[/caption] On top of that, a fully-functional replica of a purple Type Cover 2 was attached to it, which enabled people to play games on the enormous keyboard simply by jumping on the keys. To mark the launch of the event, Dizzee Rascal, an English rapper, was called up using Skype on the giant device. [caption id=“dialogue” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Dizzee Rascal at the launch event[/caption] Microsoft workers wearing blue hoodies were also happily demo-ing the new Surface 2 device throughout the day, and the public were given the opportunity to check out the new Surface 2 and also participate in numerous activities. Some of these activities included a competition to re-create a classic National Gallery painting on the giant, which could potentially earn them a ticket to a secret Dizzee Rascal gig. [caption id=“dialogue” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] People playing a game on the Giant[/caption] This publicity stunt was designed to market Microsoft’s recent release of the Surface 2 tablet. This reminds me of a similar stunt that Microsoft pulled in New York two years ago in 2011. Be sure to also check out the behind-the-scenes, as well as the Official Microsoft Surface website. Images courtesy of Andre Fryer and The Verge

The Singapore Computer Society IT Youth Council organized a Yes! Youth Engagement Series on the 7th September 2013, where young IT Professionals like myself had the rare opportunity to get up close and personal with Ms. Jessica Tan, Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore. Youths who attended the dialogue included students from tertiary education, start-up entrepreneurs and young IT professionals. [caption id=“dialogue” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Ms. Jesicca Tan sharing her experiences during the dialogue[/caption] The session kick started with a brief introduction of Ms. Tan and her portfolio. The audience was in awe of her impressive and extensive portfolio and could not wait for her to start the session off. Unsurprisingly, the question of commitment surfaced when the floor was opened. She generously shared how she juggled her responsibilities on top of being a successful wife and mother of three. Ms. Tan’s candid and whimsical approach kept us engaged, especially with her personal anecdotes. She also took the opportunity to attribute her success to those she had worked with, as well as those who scaled her ideas. She highlighted her family, particularly her husband, for being her pillar of support. Ms. Tan also elaborated on what motivates her, particularly when her ideas had come to fruition. Career wise, she reminded us of the importance of recognizing and acknowledging our partners and benefactors. Ms. Tan brought up some interesting points when a student inquired as to how to stay relevant and successful in the industry. Firstly, drawing on a solid 24 years of experience in the industry, she predicts that the industry in the coming years will be different and more exciting. Despite the fact that success and relevance can be influenced by many external factors, she suggested that flexibility, relevant skills and building a track record would definitely give a clear advantage. In addition, we should be prepared to run with opportunities, learn & innovate, know the interest in the industry, and to be involved with the community. At the same time, she dissuaded us from choosing our career simply based on our perception of what makes the most money, and also from changing jobs too often. [caption id=“participants” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] The engaged audience during the dialogue[/caption] When another student asked about how she overcame inevitable challenges in her career, she candidly shared about how she took them in her stride. For instance, she mentioned that one of the challenges being a leader is to help people understand the goal and why they need contribute. This could be a challenge as team members may not agree with the leader’s way of thinking. She also emphasized that although achieving the objective is important, working together as a team is an integral part as well. Ms. Tan rounded off the 2-hour dialogue by leaving some valuable advice for the youths in audience. She emphasized the need to build professional networks and stressed the need to be genuine. She also stressed on the importance to have the right attitude, to be sincere about learning as well as sharing our knowledge and experiences, and also to be clear of what we want to do and remember our values. Without a doubt, Ms. Tan has illustrated an intriguing industry for us young IT professionals to look forward to, and her tips and advice will serve us useful. We were all treated to a feast of pizzas during a post-dialogue networking session. Participants also took the opportunity to speak with Ms. Tan, as well as feedback to the organizers. They remarked that the dialogue was very engaging and informative and looked forward to attending future similar events.

Good day all! Amakuru! (Local language in Rwanda which stands for: How are you!) Just about one year ago, Dream.Build.Launch - Hackathon [ video | photos | article ] was first launched, followed by lots of enjoyable hack weekends [ hack weekend 1 | hack weekend 2 ] and also the NDP Special finale [ article ]. Many participants and even myself personally, certainly had lots of fun, stuffed ourselves with lots of delicious food, and met lots of awesome, like-minded people. As we developers in Singapore are fortunate to be given such wonderful opportunities, I always thought it would be exciting to share these amazing experiences with developers in developing countries too. This year, I finally had the opportunity of bringing a similar idea to Rwanda - a programming competition for the students here in Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (which stands for “where tears are dried” and “peace”). As I have shared in my earlier post, I am volunteering in the village, which aims to help the kids here who are orphans and those affected by the Genocide, and help bring out the best in them to restore their rhythm of life. [caption id=“hackathon_briefing” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Hackathon Launch and Briefing[/caption] Through this hackathon, we wanted to provide an opportunity for these vulnerable kids to share their aspirations and vision for their future, hence the theme “Our dreams, our aspirations”. Participants worked in groups of 2 - 3 where they program using Alice for the competition. Alice is an educational software that teaches the logic of programming, and is easy to learn. It is a software by Carnegie Mellon University and financially supported by Microsoft, Oracle, Sun Microsystems etc. [caption id=“consultation_2” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Providing consultation for teams on Alice programming[/caption] [caption id=“consultation_1” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Explaining to participants the logic of Object-oriented programming[/caption] While we developers in Singapore may have the best equipment to work on our codes (and perhaps take it for granted), the students here do not have such a privilege. For one, they do not have sufficient computers to work with, and on top of that, most of the computers available are old and slow. Nevertheless, they shared whatever resources they could find and learnt to deal with the problems, and they eventually came up with very interesting projects. Despite only being given a tight schedule of 4 days, participants managed to explore & learn the software on their own, plan their story boards, and eventually program a 3D video to tell their stories. On the last day, participants presented their ideas and stories to a panel of judges, where they were judged on creativity & uniqueness, theme adherence, technical aspects and their final presentation. [caption id=“presentation_1” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Team member presenting their completed project[/caption] [caption id=“presentation_2” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Teams presenting their demos[/caption] Participants were given no restrictions in their methods of presentations - they could perform a skit, sing songs or even narrate alongside their 3D videos. They shared their aspirations that include healing the world, making children happy, being a pilot and even an astronaut that goes to the moon! Finally, the winners were presented a medal during village time, a weekly evening get-together for all the staff and students, which includes performances and sharing by the students. [caption id=“medals” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Medals in the spotlight, before they were presented to the winners[/caption] [caption id=“winners” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] All participants during prize presentation[/caption] Through a post-event feedback, many of the participants have indicated interest in similar competitions. In fact, many have shown enthusiasm in organizing the competition themselves. Most of them are also keen to share their knowledge with their peers on how to program using Alice, so as to get more people interested in joining subsequent competitions. Indeed, programming competitions are becoming increasingly popular all over the world, and they come in different styles. If you’re currently in Singapore and interested to take part in one, do give the Race to 100 hackathon a shot; you may be the one walking away with a brand new Windows 8 tablet! :) Also, if you’re interested in my journey here in Rwanda, be sure to check out my tumblr posts!

UPDATE: Participants please join our FB group http://on.fb.me/18kpSdi Remember our Hackathon ala NDP Special last year? This year we’re back BIGGER and FASTER! Theme: Singapore Dates: 10am 3rd July – 10am 5th August 2013 RACE TO 100 is your opportunity to win big with your passion for coding and for Singapore. Develop one or more of the first 100 Windows 8 apps to hit 100 downloads within the contest period and win the race! Timeline of Events 3rd July – 10am Race Begins: Gadgets up and ready to go! 21st July – 11:59pm Qualifying Submission: You must submit your first app to the store by this date to qualify 5th Aug – 10am Race Ends: All entries should be submitted into the Windows store by this date 9th Aug – Winner’s Event (details coming soon) Prizes Publish 5 apps each with 100 downloads Acer Iconia W3-810 Publish 3 apps each with 100 downloads Xbox 360 Publish 1 app with 100 downloads XMINI II Speaker Capsule How Do I Join the Race? 1. Form teams of 1 to 3 2. Develop your first app, put it onto the store by 21st July, 2013, and email the title of your app to t-ciong@microsoft.com 3. Start collecting downloads for your app, until it hits 100 4. Develop more apps 5. Repeat 3 and 4 6. Submit the registration form provided here when you are ready to claim your prize (You may submit a new form each time you have a new eligible app, but only the latest will be taken into consideration) How do I know if I am still in the Race? We will be providing regular updates on Spiffy so that you can gauge your speed and standing. What else? We will be throwing an exclusive Winner’s Event on the 9th August where developers can come together for a unique NDP experience, good food, and company. Each winner will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their application to the community, share ideas, receive feedback, and interact with our technical evangelists. Download our official rules and terms and conditions here and bookmark Spiffy for regular updates. Need Help? Ideas | Templates | Marketing Got Questions? Email t-ciong@microsoft.com Everyone is a winner with Windows 8. ...

Greetings from Tokyo! Summer rainy season has arrived in Tokyo and it feels a lot like the humid and wet weather back in Singapore. But no rain can deter me from attending the International Tokyo Toy Show to check out the latest innovations and technologies in toys and entertainment. The 1st thing that I spotted upon arriving at the show was a huge bun that is shaped like the face of Anpanman, who is the leading character of a Japanese picture book series written by Takashi Yanase. This Anpanman set the tone for the entire toy show: a collection of fun and innovative toys that re-defines play time. I love this colorful and easy-to-use Anpanman Digital Camera which features moveable camera lens and huge handles with a center hollow frame to allow kids to frame the scene before taking their pictures. Here’s a YouTube video of the 1st edition of the camera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j19z-Qs0EPc Apptivity Monkey is a perfect marriage of smartphone applications and fun dolls for kids. Install the smartphone application for iPhone or iPhone Touch, place the device in the center of the doll, and let the kids interact with the Apptivity Monkey via the device screen or the activity buttons located on the doll. Check out the demo for the Apptivity Monkey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEX13sszY4Q I love these simple interactive books where kids can interact with the books to learn about a range of subjects, such as simple phrases and musical instruments. Megahouse, a Japanese toy company that is famous for producing anime figurines, has released the “Tap Me” tablet that is specially designed for kids. It runs on Android 4.0, and features over 30 pre-installed educational applications and games, parental controls to limit the usage time on these devices, and a durable silicon cover which comes in a variety of colors. Check out the product demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6qIl845q-o Bandai has released its new version of Tamagotchi, the popular handheld digital pet device that was first released in 1996. The latest edition, Tamagotchi P, features new games, activities, and different personalities for the digital pets. LINE, the popular instant messaging application, has managed to gather a large fan base for its adorable icons. Demand for these icons is so high that Takara Tomy is releasing a series of toys to capitalize on their popularity. I had a great day at the International Tokyo Toy Show where I was inspired by the numerous innovative and fun toys on display. These great toy designs is a gentle reminder that designers and developers should always design their products and services from the customer’s perspective, and to adopt an effective and simple design that maximizes the customer’s enjoyment. What do you think of the International Tokyo Toy Show? Do you have other great events to recommend for us to participate? Do share with us your recommendations in the comments below and we might just do a special report based on your recommendations!

If you missed Echelon 2012, don’t miss the chance to be part of Asia’s largest tech conference this year. There are exciting events in store for you, from insightful keynote presentations to networking with others. It will be two days of exploration of the Asia’s startup scene. Insightful keynote presentations Industry leaders, leading investors and business mentors share their experience and knowledge at Echelon to discuss trends in digital, mobile, the internet and where Asia’s tech industry is headed. Spending two days at Echelon ensures a tech and business event like no other and propels you to the top of your game. ...

We Live to Code has officially come to an end on 5th May, when we received the final app submissions from our participants! Great job to all the participants in this hackathon! So who are the winners of the Samsung Ativ PCs? *drumrolls* 3rd prize goes to StockFolio. StockFolio allows you to monitor the progress of your desire stock exchange market. It could support multiple stock exchange markets and keep their settings neatly separated. Interested to download, visit the Windows Store! ...