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Imagine Cup 2020 is Here!

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 04:29:31 +0000

The Microsoft Imagine Cup is back! Imagine Cup is Microsoft’s annual global student competition where you have a chance to get your tech project on the global stage for the chance to win free travel, cash prizes, networking opportunities, and expert mentorship. Find out more here.

Submissions are now open until December 1st, 2019!

Looking for a team? Want to improve your idea? Need tips and tricks to submit your best? Join the Microsoft Student Partners at the pre-competition bootcamp to get ready. Register today to save your seat! Event details below.

VR Optimizations in Unity – Single Pass Stereo

Fri, 31 May 2019 05:24:04 +0000

Introduction

Stereoscopic 3D in VR works by rendering the scene twice; once with the camera on the left eye, and once on the right. This means that in order to produce a 3D effect, the scene has to be rendered twice – the draw calls for each frame doubles. This is why most games and applications will experience a significantly lower framerate in VR. The only difference between the left and right image is the slight shift in perspective. Culling and shadow computation for the game objects are identical in both, and can be optimized by drawing them in the same draw call. This way we can significantly improve the performance of VR applications.

“OneDrive can’t transfer files right now” – Fix

Fri, 31 May 2019 03:16:20 +0000

You’ve just hooked your PC up to OneDrive, and perhaps you’re trying to download a large folder (or everything) off it. Halfway through, you get an error: “OneDrive can’t transfer files right now”. This is actually caused by your PC hitting a local transfer limit (not server sided) of about 500GB. Generally, you can wait a day and it’ll eventually start syncing again. Chances are though, you’d like to fix it immediately. Here’s how: The fix is relatively simple.

Azure for Students - Sign Up and Deploy a Web App Guide (2019)

Wed, 29 May 2019 03:47:21 +0000

The Microsoft Azure Cloud Platform is a very powerful enterprise cloud. It does many things, from running websites to Virtual Machines to Machine Learning. As a student, you get $100 of Azure credits annually – no credit card required. Additionally, get access to over 25 always free services – including hosting up to 10 websites via the Azure App Service or even the Azure Face API to do facial recognition. We’ll start small for now, showing you how to claim your Azure for Students account and get a website running.

Modern App Development with Azure: What I Learnt from an 8-Hour Azure Event

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 13:35:13 +0000

Few days ago, the Cloud & Enterprise team at Microsoft Singapore organized an event about developing modern applications on Microsoft Azure in their downtown office. As member from a young startup using Microsoft Azure services, I decided to join the event to find more about the tools that we have been using daily in our development journey. Hence, this article is to share what I had learnt in that 8-hour Azure event. [caption id=“attachment_media-36” align=“aligncenter” width=“1366”] Modern App Development with Azure event[/caption]

Briefing Session - Ideas wanted for Singapore Pools' Branches

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 02:16:26 +0000

Join Singapore infocomm Technology Federation and Singapore Pools for a lunch briefing session on 14-Aug as Singapore Pools seek innovative ideas on how they can better utilize the space and resources of the branches. Ideas should go beyond Singapore Pools’ business operations and be aligned to their vision to be world-class socially responsible gaming company trusted by customers and valued by the community.

Register for the session at https://goo.gl/forms/fXIZjfkzc7JxPFWz1

AI and the Innovation Ecosystem in China

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 01:59:18 +0000

Have you ever wondered how a Singapore brand can successfully penetrate the Chinese market? This informative session will provide ideas on commercialization plans a Singapore brand can adopt and how AI could be leveraged to drive business growth. Date: 11th Aug, Friday, 11.45am - 2.00pm Venue: SiTF Office, 79 Ayer Rajah Crescent #02-05 S139955 Fee: FOC

Register today at http://bit.ly/2vXp7bN

Reserve your Date: SQL Saturday Singapore | August 26th

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 10:32:34 +0000

SQL Saturday Singapore | 26th August 2017 | Microsoft Singapore

SQLSaturday is one of the most highly anticipated free one-day training event of the year, bringing over 200+ data platform professionals together annually to connect, share, and learn about the latest technologies and services about SQL Server, Business Intelligence and Analytics, through a series of extensive strategic and technical presentations delivered by some of the best speakers and sponsors from the SQL Industry across the globe. The event will be held on August 26th from 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM at Microsoft Singapore. For session information and to register, visit the SQLSATURDAY 646 website. Seating is limited and we recommend that you register early. Let your friends and colleagues know about the event, too or share on social media with #SQLSat646. Here’s a quick summary of what you can expect from SQLSaturday 2017:

Modern Application Development with Microsoft Azure | August 2nd, 2017

Thu, 27 Jul 2017 08:26:47 +0000

Modern Application Development with Microsoft Azure

August 2nd, 2017 | 0900 – 1730 (Registration begins at 8:30)

Microsoft Singapore Level 21, Auditorium One Marina Boulevard Singapore 018989

The developer community is extremely important to Microsoft. The tools and methodologies developers use in their day-to-day work defines their efficiency and ability to deliver. At Microsoft, we aim to walk alongside developers and provide them with the right tools and empower them with relevant skillsets. Learn Microsoft’s holistic strategy for you, the developers of today; and see how our tools and services can remove blockers so you can focus on innovating and making what’s next. Set out with us on a journey of discovery through our compelling developer story. Agenda: Registration URL: https://www.microsoftevents.com/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x2253325517b

Join 2nd Edition of Startup&Angels Singapore at LEVEL3 Foundry Unilever

Tue, 25 Jul 2017 03:19:57 +0000

Join startup founders and business angels for the 2nd edition of Startup&Angels in Singapore! An exclusive and relaxed networking event between startups and angels hosted by GoExpat Group and supported by Australiance & Wombat Capital on Thursday, 24th August at LEVEL3 The Foundry (Unilever) from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Meet entrepreneurs, business angels, investors and C-levels around 6 speakers coming to introduce their startups or give some insightful advice about how to develop successful businesses in Singapore. All of this around some wine, beer and food! You will have the chance to meet:

Join Us in KyberNetwork Keynote on 21 July 2017

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 08:39:39 +0000

KyberNetwork is a decentralized and trustless exchange that facilitates instant conversion between crypto-assets with guaranteed liquidity. Through KyberNetwork’s service, a user can send token “A” to an intended recipient who wishes to receive the payment in token “B” in a single transaction. Not only that, KyberNetwork will also introduce a new smart contract interface that would allow existing accounts, which only accept certain specific tokens (e.g. an account only accepts REP, GNT, etc. but not others), to receive any existing or future token (e.g. PAY and CVC) without having to modify the token contract code (i.e. the recipient is not aware that the payment actually was proxied via KyberNetwork). KyberNetwork’s protocol will be key to promote liquidity of crypto-assets in the blockchain ecosystem, and improve the perception of tokens as a tradeble asset class to the greater public. Loi is the co-founder and CEO of KyberNetwork. He is a specialist in Ethereum smart contract and a fervent believer in decentralized economies. Notably, his work with Oyente, which made smart contracts smarter is very well-received by the community and is presently one of the most used analysis tools for smart contracts. That aside, his practical experiences with Ethereum blockchain also include co-founding Smartpool, which builds decentralized mining pools for existing cryptocurrencies. Outside of Ethereum, Loi has been featured as one of Asia’s Rising Scientists by Asian Scientist magazine for his contribution to the blockchain space. He is also a recipient of Microsoft Research Asia PhD Fellowship in 2016 which identifies and awards promising young researchers in the region. Loi is also a frequent contributor to conferences and publications, as he had produced works which are featured on Coindesk and presented at numerous keynote events, including Devcon 2 in Shanghai in 2016. Website: http://kyber.network/ Whitepaper: http://kyber.network/assets/KyberNetworkWhitepaper.pdf Event Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/Ethereum-Singapore/events/241241820/ Timeline: 6:30-7:00pm Registration 7:00-7:30pm Keynote Part I: Introduction to KyberNetwork 7:30-8:00pm Keynote Part II: Strategies to Manage Reserves in KyberNetwork 8:00-8:30pm Q&A and Networking Jointly organized by DigixGlobal:

Congratulations to BizSpark Startup TurnKey Lender for Closing Series A Funding Round

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 02:00:37 +0000

Congratulations to BizSpark Startup TurnKey Lender for successfully closing their Series A funding round. TurnKey Lender is a cloud-based loan management system and software which automates every step in the origination and account servicing process. Customers gain speed and agility, while controlling risk with business-driven, adjustable risk parameters. To find out about TurnKey Lender and their cloud-based loan management system and software, please visit their website at https://turnkey-lender.com/ Find out more about this exciting development at Tech In Asia : https://www.techinasia.com/turnkey-lender-series-a

Robust Search on E-Commerce Website

Mon, 03 Jul 2017 04:58:57 +0000

Azure Search is provided as a Search-as-a-Service solution that helps e-commerce developers to easily offer a robust search experience on the website without managing search infrastructure and understanding in depth about search. Working in the e-commerce team, we find search to be very important because as the number of products grows, search function becomes a top-priority task for us to implement. Azure Search is what we choose to use.

Upload Data to Index

For our e-commerce platform, we have data stored separately in different systems. With Azure Search, we can easily compile and push data to populate the Azure Search index. By doing this way, we don’t need to worry about what our data sources will be. To upload data to Azure Search in .NET, firstly, we need to get the Microsoft Azure Search .NET SDK NuGet Package. [caption id=“attachment_4759” align=“alignnone” width=“1392”] Installed Azure Search NuGet package in ASP .NET MVC project.[/caption] Secondly, we need to create an instance of the SearchServiceClient.

Congratulations to our Global BizSpark Startups in TOP100 Fight Club at Echelon Asia Summit 2017

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 09:50:49 +0000

Congratulations to our Global BizSpark Startups for their performance in TOP100 Fight Club at Echelon Asia Summit 2017. Poladrone won the Judges’ Choice Award while DesignBold won the Fan Choice award. Here’s a quick look at our BizSpark Startups in TOP100 Fight Club at Echelon Asia Summit 2017: Poladrone (Malaysia) : Providing industry leading aerial solutions to help businesses optimise their business operations and maximise results. We believe in continuously gather data using autonomous systems to predict future events through big data analytics. We see a future where drones will be gathering data in the background and improving our lives without us realising that they’re buzzing above our heads. Poladrone was founded in June 2016. Our vision is to accelerate the drone revolution. We are currently improving agriculture results in Malaysia. DesignBold (Vietnam) : Founded in September 2015 by Hung Dinh, the man behind one of the biggest Joomla templates marketplaces in the world, first thing we do is build the best tool possible. DesignBold empowers users to get access to thousands of nicely-designed ready-made templates. Our users are just some clicks away from a great looking presentations, Facebook ads, or banners, and so many more.

CodingGirls Day | A day of sharing, learning and networking

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 01:46:05 +0000

June 24th: CodingGirlsSummit is an inaugural regional event to bring female tech leaders, founders and enthusiasts in Southeast Asia together for a day of sharing, learning and networking. This is a local initiative where they strive to eliminate and lower barriers to entry for ladies from all walks of life who have no or little knowledge in technology but are interested to hone their tech skills. Microsoft is proud to partner with CodingGirls for this year’s event and we would like to thank Michelle Simmons and Utkarsha Singh for taking time off their busy schedules to speak at this event, reaching out to more than 300 attendees. Michelle Simmons, General Manager, SEA New Markets, Microsoft Asia Pacific who joined the distinguished panel of speakers in the First panel of discussion on ‘Closing the Confidence Gap Practical Advice and Where to Begin (the Next Big Idea?)’ which included female leaders from IBM, Google, Spotify and ThoughtWorks. Utkarsha Singh, Technical Evangelist, DX, Microsoft Singapore for sharing her thoughts on Careers in Tech for women in the ‘Career Spotlight: All you want to know about my Technie job’. For a recap of the event, visit

Monkey Fest 2017 | Global Xamarin Summit Singapore

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 00:30:57 +0000

The Largest Cross Platform Xamarin Conference of the year!

MonkeyFest - Global Xamarin Summit Singapore 2017 is the largest Cross Platform Xamarin Dev conference, and is the meeting place for Cross platform Developers, Software Architects, DevOps, Technical Project Managers, Project Owners from around the world to learn about and exchange experience of Xamarin and related Cross Platform Development Technologies. Expect an avalanche of goodness about the latest and best of the cross platform development world, cloud computing and .Net universe set within an idyllic location with a festival atmosphere. The event will take place over 2 days with 4 tracks in Singapore on 22/23 September 2017 at Microsoft Singapore. Get your tickets now! MonkeyFest - Global Xamarin Summit is a 2 days event on the 22 and 23 of September 2017, with sessions, workshops, demos and exhibitors. The Daily Event Ticket includes access to the event, refreshments, food and MonkeyFest swag. The 22 September evening Party includes party access, food and 1 drink. For more information, visit https://www.monkeyfest.io/

Meet our Global BizSpark Startups at TOP100 Fight Club in Echelon Asia Summit 2017

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 05:26:34 +0000

Introducing our BizSpark Startups from around the region participating in TOP100 Fight Club at Echelon Asia Summit 2017: Advvy (Australia) : Advvy is the only enterprise grade workflow management platform just for Media Agencies. Our cloud-based platform transforms inefficient manual processes into a workflow solution to allow Agency employees to work smarter, while giving management real-time visibility into their campaign activity and performance. Ozmo @ Grokinglab (Hong Kong) : Ozmo is smart hydration platform that provides fitness industry and insurance industry with actionable insights to reduce their risk through helping the user to understand hydration. Codemojo (India) : Codemojo runs the World’s first Rewards Network that unlocks user engagement and acquisition through instant rewarding by bringing Brands and App & Website publishers on a single platform. Anterin (Indonesia) : Anterin, under PT Anterin Digital Nusantara registered with their partners throughout Indonesia, providing city courier services, trucking, transportation and warehousing. Anterin a city courier service provider marketplace, trucking, transportation and warehousing, from companies and private. Unlike the services that exist today, Anterin has a unique service that is not owned by any other competitor. As tariff services are determined by partners who already cooperate with Anterin, conducted by an auction mechanism. Plater (Indonesia) : Full services in F&B industries, an online platform including marketplace, branding, consultation, legal & even cooking class! CheQQme (Malaysia) : CheQQme is a gamified mobile marketing platform that focus on bringing online traffic to the offline walk-in foot traffic, especially for the retailers. Poladrone (Malaysia) : Providing industry leading aerial solutions to help businesses optimise their business operations and maximise results. We believe in continuously gather data using autonomous systems to predict future events through big data analytics. We see a future where drones will be gathering data in the background and improving our lives without us realising that they’re buzzing above our heads. Poladrone was founded in June 2016. Our vision is to accelerate the drone revolution. We are currently improving agriculture results in Malaysia. Tralulu (Philippines) : There are over a hundred thousand local guides in Southeast Asia yet there’s no easy way to discover them at a click of a button. Through Tralulu’s marketplace, guides can finally be booked for their specialty on guiding travelers wherever they’re from at a click of a button while helping guides become sustainable. Aimazing (Singapore) : B2B fintech startup that is enabling contactless mobile payments using Soundwaves. BestTop Consulting Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) : BestTop is an online marketplace where working professionals serve as freelancing career mentors and provide customized career advice to help job seekers succeed in career. Cryowerx (Singapore) : CryoWerx is a retail tech company that build an Omni-channel solution using Automated Retail Kiosk for brick-n-mortar retailers. CryoWerx design and build Automated Retail Kiosk which allow self-service experiential purchase for consumer. Our technology enable real-time inventory information and provide detailed sales analytics. Coupled with our mobile apps, this solution can be extended beyond in-store purchase to the online purchase; making it an Omni-channel solution. Dexecure (Singapore) : Dexecure speeds up websites by automating optimization techniques using latest web technologies. In the ever-changing landscape of network protocols, browser features, and platforms, we provide an abstraction layer for performance-first content delivery. We deliver so that your website never has to compromise on performance. ELI Software (Singapore) : ELI Software has a low-code software platform for domain experts to build AI knowledge driven applications. With self learning, these AI applications can update and evolve itself over time. igloohome (Singapore) : igloohome aims to help people manage their homes and properties through innovative technologies to enable simple, safer and smarter living. Our products work offline, which mean that there is no worry about wifi connectivity or wifi hacking. The technology behind our devices involves synchronisation and encryption, similar to that in the internet banking token. igloohome has been featured in major publications such as The Business Times, Digital Trends, The Huffington Post, Tech in Asia, and on broadcast channels such as Channel NewsAsia. Jumper.ai (Singapore) : jumper.ai is the fastest commerce enabler to automagically engage and transact with your customers. AI powered, Personal. Easy. Instant! MapGage (Singapore) : MapGage is a cloud based solution allowing clients to integrate drone maps , blueprints, sensors & field observations. MapGage increases the practical & operational value of drone acquired data. Moving Walls (Singapore) : Moving Walls enables Smart(er) Cities by leveraging our expertise in location and context intelligence, and “all-screen” connected media. Regit (Singapore) :Regit is a compliant real-time communication platform for individuals to share, and update personal information with the people and businesses that they TRUST, keeping business customer records up-to-date. We do this by making it super easy for customers to use their information, give customers control of their information, and adapt Regit to social behavior. Our vision is that users just need one account to do anything they want with their personal information. Share personal information with friends and family in case of emergency, use it at the doctors, book a flight, shop online, sign up for a membership and etc. Surge (Singapore) : Surge is developing a Al-powered smart assistant to help sales professional close more deals by automating data entry and delivering insights turning admin time into more selling time. TranSwap (Singapore) : Transwap aims to be Global Cross-Border International FX payments Hub, facilitating Peer to Peer FX swapping and payments to over 60 countries for businesses and individuals. Zeemart (Singapore) : Zeemart is a B2B sourcing platform for the F&B industry, with a mission to enable businesses to make smarter purchasing decisions via our e-procurement platform. Jameasy (South Korea) : Jameasy is a solution to help learn musical instruments. it based on advanced software and hardware technology to change the boring practice to game-like playing along with useful feedback. Komachine (South Korea) : We are the largest online machine platform in Asia, Connecting more than 40,000 machine suppliers from Korea with over 3 Million Global buyers. LUXROBO (South Korea) : LUXROBO is a venture company specializing in robotics. Based on our robot technology, we create products that make electrical appliances smarter and easier to use. FindYourSpace (Thailand) : FindYourSpace is an enterprise cloud platform for focusing on the real-estate industry in South East Asia.Through technology and innovation FindYourSpace aims to empower the agents with modern and intuitive tools to modernize and improve the way real-estate agents are working in the region. Plizz (Thailand) : Accounting Services powered by online platform with instant access to financials. With its user friendly online platform, Plizz aims at simplifying Accounting processes and providing transparent, cost-effective and all-inclusive Accounting Services for SMEs struggling with their numbers and piles of bills. Telemedica (Thailand) : Telemedica runs a telemedicine platform called ‘Ooca’ that makes teleconsultation more accessible via VDO call. We focus more in mental health area in B2C but all area in B2B. DesignBold (Vietnam) : Founded in September 2015 by Hung Dinh, the man behind one of the biggest Joomla templates marketplaces in the world, first thing we do is build the best tool possible. DesignBold empowers users to get access to thousands of nicely-designed ready-made templates. Our users are just some clicks away from a great looking presentations, Facebook ads, or banners, and so many more. To find out more about the top startups participating in TOP100 Fight Club at Echelon Asia Summit 2017:

Congratulations to BizSpark Startup Cafebond for entering Taiwan Innovation & Technology Arena

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 16:14:03 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, Cafebond, was successfully admitted into the Taiwan Innovation & Technology Arena (TITAN). TITAN is a flagship project supported by Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology which is focused on boosting the diversity of Taiwan’s innovation ecosystem by inviting talents from all over the world. Cafebond offers a web and mobile platform that connects coffee lovers with the best coffee brands in the world, so you can taste and buy unique specialty coffee beans and blends from roaster-owned cafes from London to Melbourne, Singapore to Beijing, in one easy checkout process. To find out about Cafebond and their product offering, please visit their official website at https://www.cafebond.com/

L’Oréal Innovation Runway Startup Challenge Roadshow at Impact Hub

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 08:36:55 +0000

Building Jupyter Notebooks for Interactive Programming & Analysis

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 07:42:36 +0000

Another exciting edition of ACE Microsoft Tech Talks was held in LaunchPad where Mr. Gerald Goh presented a special workshop on building building Jupyter Notebooks for interactive programming and analysis. Despite the niche topic being presented, the community responded warmly to this workshop, with over 21 individuals signing-up for the event and 15 participants attending the workshop. During the session, Gerald introduced the concepts for Jupyter, IPython, R Programming Language and F# Programming Language, and allowed the participants to apply the concepts learnt in a practical workshop to build their own Jupyter Notebooks. At the end of the session, the audience mingled over light refreshments, and connected with Gerald to find out more about the concepts taught during the session. You can review the materials presented in the session below: Slides : Building Jupyter Notebooks for Interactive Programming & Analysis Code : https://github.com/MSFTImagine/computerscience/tree/master/Workshop Azure Notebooks : https://notebooks.azure.com/ Sign-up for Microsoft Azure : https://azure.microsoft.com/ A big round of applause to our presenter, Gerald, and our audience for taking time off from their busy schedule to attend this session. Special thanks to Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) for being our great event partner for “ACE Microsoft Tech Talks”. Check out our Spiffy Facebook Events to find out our upcoming activities in LaunchPad.

L’Oréal Innovation Runway Startup Challenge Roadshow

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 08:43:54 +0000

Take Part in Global FinTech Hackcelerator 2017

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 08:31:15 +0000

The Global FinTech Hackcelerator 2017, powered by KPMG Digital Village, is looking for the most exciting and innovative start-ups from all over the world who can address problems faced by the financial industry. We have 100 problem statements across three focus areas: Customer-Facing, Financial Inclusion, and RegTech, and a General category. The top 20 start-ups shortlisted for the Global FinTech Hackcelerator will have the opportunity to:

Work with real client owners to contextualise their solution to client and industry needs
Enter and/or expand into Singapore and the Asia-Pacific regional markets
Receive guidance and support from industry experts, subject-matter experts and regulatory bodies
Build and nurture lasting relationships with a community of passionate professionals and game changers
Receive a cash stipend of up to S$20,000

Applications for the Global FinTech Hackcelerator are now open and will close on 15 July 2017. To find out more about the programme and view the problem statements, please visit our official website at http://www.fintechfestival.sg/hackcelerator/

Congratulations to BizSpark Startup Bluzelle being awarded "Technology Pioneer" status by World Economic Forum

Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:23:55 +0000

Congratulations to BizSpark Startup Bluzelle for being awarded “Technology Pioneer” status by World Economic Forum. Bluzelle offers a complete and fully integrated stack of blockchain applications, middleware and data services. With customers that range from SMEs to global enterprises, Bluzelle is able to design, develop and deploy the best solution for your business. To find out about Bluzelle and their Blockchain solutions, please visit their website at http://bluzelle.com/ Find out more about this exciting development at e27 : https://e27.co/singapore-blockchain-startup-bluzelle-becomes-world-economic-forum-endorsed-technology-pioneer-20170614/

Building Smart Apps with AI at Your Fingertips at BASH Chope! Microsoft Innovation Huddle

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 08:17:36 +0000

BASH Chope! Microsoft Innovation Huddle returns to LaunchPad where we dived into building smart apps with Artificial Intelligence at your fingertips by exploring the various features of the Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit. As always, the community responded enthusiastically to the event with over 110 sign-ups and a turnout of over 60 participants comprising of startups, students, developers, and industry professionals. At the end of the session, the audience connected with Alyssa to find out more about integrating Artificial Intelligence into applications in real life scenarios. Special thanks to Alyssa for taking time off from her busy schedule to present in our event. A big thank you to all event attendees and we are looking forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming events. You can review the presentation slides at: Building Smart Apps Check out our Spiffy Facebook Events to find out our upcoming activities in LaunchPad. Special thanks to BASH and TAG.PASS for being our supporting event partners! Check out the latest news and events from BASH via Twitter @BASH_SGInnovate

Join us for our very first APAC #CloudTechSummit

Tue, 13 Jun 2017 01:13:13 +0000

You’re invited to join Microsoft APAC’s first Cloud Tech Summit on 28th June.

In a Cloud first and Mobile first world, both business and technology leaders need to embrace disruptive innovations for a sustainable competitive advantage Join us for this virtual summit as leaders from UEM Edgenta, Downer Group, PACT, Snowden Group and more come together to share their experiences on how they leveraged innovative technologies such as AI & machine learning, IoT and Big data to accelerate their digital transformation. This inaugural summit brings you 5 tracks on how Azure can help you stay ahead. —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

JTC 3rd Open Innovation Call for Robotics, Automation and Autonomous Solutions

Tue, 06 Jun 2017 14:49:02 +0000

In this third Open Innovation Call, JTC is looking for robotics, automation and autonomous solutions to improve the way we build, operate and manage our buildings and estates. An industry briefing for the Challenge Statements is scheduled to share more details. Details are as follow: Date : Friday, 9 June 2017 Time : 2pm - 5pm Location : Level 2, Theatrette at JTC Summit, 8 Jurong Town Hall Road, Singapore 609434 To register, please fill in the registration form at https://goo.gl/forms/ehzrSJeYlRc40lCp2 For more details, please visit http://www.jtc.gov.sg/our-partnerships/Pages/open-innovation-call.aspx

CodingGirls Day | Closing the Confidence Gap - Practical Advice and Where to Begin

Tue, 06 Jun 2017 10:58:41 +0000

Closing the Confidence Gap - Practical Advice and Where to Begin

Catch Michelle Simmons, General Manager, Southeast Asia New Market, Microsoft Asia Pacific as she participates as a panel speaker at the CodingGirls Day on June 24****th. The panelists will discuss the opportunities in tech field for women and share their personal journey of advancement. The following speakers have been confirmed: 1. Michelle Simmons (General Manager, SEA New Markets at Microsoft APAC) 2. Susan Jain (CMO at IBM) 3. Sunita Kaur (Managing Director at Spotify) 4. Virginia Cha (Adjunct Professor at Entrepreneurship INSEAD & NUS) 5. Nopparat Yokubon (AUNZ/SEA Lead, App Developer Sales at Google) Moderator for this panel is Arnaud Bonzom, Director of Corporate Innovation at 500 Startups CodingGirls Day is an inaugural regional event to bring female tech leaders, founders and enthusiasts in Southeast Asia together for a day of sharing, learning and networking. RSVP now at CodingGirls Day!

Get Ready for Echelon Asia Summit 2017

Fri, 02 Jun 2017 05:24:28 +0000

Echelon Asia Summit 2017 is a digital insights, connections, talent and funding platform and power-packed two day conference this June 28-29 at Singapore EXPO. Exclusive for our community members: get 30% off all Delegate, Startup, Investor and Corporate passes now!

OFFER EXTENDED! Register before June 26 at https://e27.co/echelon/asia/

Congratulations to our BizSpark Startup Graduates at Startup Autobahn Singapore Accelerator Program

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 14:31:51 +0000

Congratulations to the graduating class for the inaugural edition of Startup Autobahn Singapore Accelerator Program in collaboration with Plug and Play and NUS Enterprise. Here’s a quick look at our BizSpark Startups that have graduated from the accelerator program: Surge (Artificial Intelligence): Surge leverages voice and email data to automatically enter, clean and complete information into your CRM. Fixir (Logistics & Transportation): Fixir is the friend every driver needs. Whether your car breaks downs, needs a polish or is due for a wheel change, we’re here for you. Using Fixir is really simple, you just need to select the service you need and our reliable service providers will come to you in no time! Rendezvous (Enterprise Solution): Automated minutes taker for meetings using various speech-to-text software and creating a transcript from speech.

Start Your Week of Access to Co-Working Community at The Impact Hub Singapore

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 06:37:17 +0000

Whether you are an entrepreneur, techie, designer, creative, corporate professional, freelancer, student or in the midst of a career change – join The Impact Hub Singapore, one of Singapore’s premier co-working community with mentorship, incubation, workshops, events, networking and corporate innovation labs. Sign-up for your complimentary week of access to a collaborative co-working community HERE using the promo code MHUBVIP For startups, enjoy discounted rates on memberships at The Impact Hub Singapore. To find out more, visit http://singapore.impacthub.net/startup-success

Leveraging Blockchain Technologies with Digix Global at BASH Chope! Microsoft Startup Days

Wed, 31 May 2017 08:41:38 +0000

After a two-month break, BASH CHOPE! Microsoft Startup Days returned to BASH with a special presentation by Mr. Shaun Djie, co-founder for Digix Global, where he shared his startup journey and how Microsoft’s technologies are helping his startup to build an asset tokenization platform on the Ethereum Blockchain, marrying the functionality and transactional utility of crypto coins with real world physical assets on the Blockchain and unlocking the store of value of physical assets to use them as a medium of exchange over the internet easily and efficiently. This event is one of our most well-received community activity in LaunchPad, attracting over 140 sign-ups and a turnout of over 100 attendees comprising of a mixture of startup, students, developers and industry professionals. The audience was highly interested in the potential of Blockchain, how distributed ledger technology is applied for digital assets, the ways in which they are utilizing Microsoft Azure Platform to build and grow their platform. Special thanks to Mr. Shaun Djie for taking time off from his busy schedule to share his entrepreneurial journey with us. A big thank you to all event attendees and we are looking forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming events. Recap the presentation HERE and follow Digix Global in the following channels for the latest news and updates:

Congratulations to BizSpark Startup Gnowbe for Raising US$1.7 million in Seed Funding

Tue, 30 May 2017 08:08:58 +0000

Congratulations to BizSpark Startup Gnowbe for raising US$1.7 million in seed funding to grow their learning platform. Gnowbe leverages bite-sized, social learning (chats and messaging) and gamification to encourage active engagement and inspire behavior change. It is designed for the modern learner who needs relevant, new content when they want it, when they need it - right in their pockets. To find out about Gnowbe and their platform, please visit their website at https://www.gnowbe.com/ Find out more about this exciting development at the following sites:

Congratulations to BizSpark Startup Attores for Partnership with Ngee Ann Polytechnic to Issue Blockchain Diplomas

Sat, 27 May 2017 01:23:32 +0000

Congratulations to BizSpark Startup Attores for collaborating with Ngee Ann Polytechnic to be the first educational institution in Singapore to distribute academic certificates on their blockchain platform. Attores is a Smart Contracts as a Service platform. They make it easy for you to write, submit and execute Smart Contracts on the blockchain by providing the APIs and Smart Contract templates for your Blockchain Apps which includes Digital Certificates and Digital Signatures. To find out about Attores and their Smart Contracts platform, please visit their website at http://www.attores.com/ Read more about this exciting collaboration in the following news coverage:

ACE Microsoft Tech Talks - Building Your First Machine Learning Application

Fri, 26 May 2017 05:25:17 +0000

To celebrate a month of innovation in Singapore where we welcomed Innovfest unBound 2017, Tech In Asia Singapore 2017 and CommunicAsia2017, we held a special edition of ACE Microsoft Tech Talks where our community leader, Mr. James Lee, presented a workshop on building a machine learning application. Over 70 individuals sign-up for the event where 27 participants were able to attend the workshop due to limited seats available. During the session, James introduced the basics of data science and machine learning, and allowed the participants to apply the concepts learnt in a practical workshop to build their own machine learning application. At the end of the session, the audience mingled over light refreshments, and connected with James to find out more about the latest developments in machine learning and their applications in the industry. You can review the materials presented in the session below: Slides : Building Your First Machine Learning Application Code : https://github.com/jamesleeht/AzureMLWithWebappHOL Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio : https://studio.azureml.net/ Sign-up for Microsoft Azure : https://azure.microsoft.com/ A big round of applause to our presenter, James, and our audience for taking time off from their busy schedule to attend this session. Special thanks to Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) for being our great event partner for “ACE Microsoft Tech Talks”. Check out our Spiffy Facebook Events to find out our upcoming activities in LaunchPad.

Meet our BizSpark Startups at CommunicAsia2017

Tue, 23 May 2017 07:32:13 +0000

CommunicAsia2017 is back in town from 23-25 May 2017, showcasing cutting-edge technologies including Smart Cities, IoT, Cloud & Big Data, and Enterprise Mobility. Meet our Singapore Microsoft BizSpark Startups that are exhibiting at Startup Alley in CommunicAsia2017: Kobe : Kobe is a AI-driven advertising platform that pairs advertisers with relevant everyday influencers, leveraging on their ability to broadcast messages to millions of users so that businesses can get represented in front of their target audience in a credible manner. Gnowbe : Gnowbe was built on the latest research and science on how adults learn: not by passive listening but through application and reflection. Gnowbe leverages bite-sized, social learning (chats and messaging) and gamification to encourage active engagement and inspire behavior change. It is designed for the modern learner who needs relevant, new content when they want it, when they need it - right in their pockets. Pear Comms : Pear Comms was created with the aim of generating a suite of online applications to increase sales productivity on a whole, such as QuickDesk, a simplified CRM software optimized for sales teams and professionals. Blink Technologies Pte Ltd : Our field force app, “Blink”, is used by more than 300 promoters daily to clock their attendance, send sales numbers and perform daily tasks. These are directly translated to reports for the operations team and supervisors to track daily attendance and sales numbers. Other than HR Solutions, we also help other companies build custom solutions to improve their productivity or products.

Channel NewsAsia Feature on BizSpark Startup - Savioke

Mon, 22 May 2017 07:07:32 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, Savioke, was recently featured in Channel NewsAsia where it highlights the deployment of autonomous delivery robots built by Savioke in the hospitality industry. Savioke is committed to measurably improving people’s lives by creating and deploying beautifully simple. sophisticated, and friendly service robots that work safely, securely, and reliably in human environments. To find out about Savioke and its product offering, please visit their official website at http://www.savioke.com/ Check out the Channel NewsAsia feature at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/technology/commentary-introducing-robots-in-hotels-in-singapore-is-a-good-8843958

The Retail Business Magazine Feature on BizSpark Startup - Park N Parcel

Fri, 19 May 2017 05:17:38 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, Park N Parcel, was recently featured in The Retail Business Magazine which introduced a brand new on-demand parcel collection service for online shoppers. Park N Parcel is a Singapore based start-up offering an innovative last mile mailing service solution which provides shoppers with a convenient way to collect their online purchases in a hassle free manner by parking the parcels at various collection points which includes your neighbors, cafes, retail stores,convenience stores, and pharmacies. To find out about Park N Parcel and its product offering, please visit their official website at https://www.parknparcel.com.sg/ Check out The Retail Business Magazine feature at http://retailasiaonline.com/new-on-demand-parcel-collection-service-for-online-shoppers/

Congratulations to BizSpark Startups CognaLearn, Kobe, and Regit in Tech in Asia Singapore 2017 Startup Arena

Thu, 18 May 2017 15:05:12 +0000

Congratulations to BizSpark Startups CognaLearn, Kobe, and Regit for being Finalists in Tech in Asia Singapore 2017 Startup Arena. CognaLearn came in second while Kobe came in third during the Startup Arena where Swingvy beat six other startups to win the coveted prize of a fully paid participation at the Deloitte Tohmatsu Venture Summit 2017 in Tokyo this July, including flight, accommodation, and booth. Here’s a quick look at our BizSpark Startups in Tech in Asia Singapore 2017 Startup Arena: CognaLearn (Education): CognaLearn is an education company devoted to applying brain science to improve learning outcomes. Kobe (Ad Tech): Kobe is a AI-driven advertising platform that pairs advertisers with relevant everyday influencers, leveraging on their ability to broadcast messages to millions of users so that businesses can get represented in front of their target audience in a credible manner. Regit (Big Data): Regit is an online ecosystem that allow users to share their personal information efficiently, securely, and socially with others. User’s personal information is stored in a Digital Information Vault on a highly secured cloud service that is accessible anytime, anywhere and for any type of transactions where your information is required. Read more about Tech in Asia Singapore 2017 Startup Arena at https://www.techinasia.com/tia-sg-2017-arena-swingvy Check out the exciting Startup Arena Pitches:

Meet Our BizSpark Startups at Tech In Asia Singapore 2017

Tue, 16 May 2017 06:18:24 +0000

Ready for Tech in Asia Singapore 2017? Prepare yourself for 2 full days of inspiring keynotes, innovative talks, educational breakouts, and tons of networking. Learn from entrepreneurs and topic experts who have been there, done that across 5 stages - Main Stage, Developer & Product Stage, Startup 101 Stage, Marketing Stage, and Revenue Stage. Meet our Singapore Microsoft BizSpark Startups that will be exhibiting at Tech in Asia Singapore 2017: Kobe (Ad Tech): Kobe is a AI-driven advertising platform that pairs advertisers with relevant everyday influencers, leveraging on their ability to broadcast messages to millions of users so that businesses can get represented in front of their target audience in a credible manner. SMAX Xpert (Analytics): SMAX Xpert is a social media analytics company. We provide customer with insights to the market, their customers and competitors through SaaS. Regit (Big Data): Regit is an online ecosystem that allow users to share their personal information efficiently, securely, and socially with others. User’s personal information is stored in a Digital Information Vault on a highly secured cloud service that is accessible anytime, anywhere and for any type of transactions where your information is required. Markedshot (Crowd Sourcing): Businesses today need more images than ever before for prints, designs, marketing, advertising and social media channels. Markedshot connects photo buyers and photographers together with simple pricing and license as well as other innovations like photo challenges & online image editor. SKY Optimum Technology (Design): SKY Optimum Technology (SKYOPT) is an interactive technology company that provides a unified interactive visualization solution for users to immerse themselves into a virtual environment. The immersive solution is produced by integrating novel technologies in computer vision and graphics such as augmented, virtual and mixed reality into practical applications. Dexecure (Developer Tools): Dexecure speeds up websites by automating optimization techniques using latest web technologies.In the ever-changing landscape of network protocols, browser features, and platforms, we provide an abstraction layer for performance-first content delivery. We deliver so that your website never has to compromise on performance. Learnly (Education): Learnly gives everyone a chance to monetise their skills through a community marketplace for students and tutors to connect. Be it private tuition, group tuition, music lessons and more, tutors are a few taps away on the Learnly app. CognaLearn (Education): CognaLearn is an education company devoted to applying brain science to improve learning outcomes. Gnowbe (Enterprise Solution): Gnowbe was built on the latest research and science on how adults learn: not by passive listening but through application and reflection. Gnowbe leverages bite-sized, social learning (chats and messaging) and gamification to encourage active engagement and inspire behavior change. It is designed for the modern learner who needs relevant, new content when they want it, when they need it - right in their pockets. Kloud-Soft (Enterprise Solution): Kloud-Soft is an Independent Software Vendor (ISV) that operates in developing effective system programmes for the corporate, commercial, and industrial sectors. Our goal is to help your company upgrade to modern practices for today’s highly competitive market landscape. We also specialize in the automation of operations and the digitization of data, allowing you to gain more control over every aspect of your business. Furthermore, our advanced analytic systems can help you discover and take advantage of key opportunities. 8Volution (Enterprise Solution): 8Volution is a unique digital agency that combines both Technology and Digital Marketing as one. Our solutions are made for enterprise ranging from individual to large . We offer business to business solutions, customized web and mobile development and omni-channel solutions that are creatively developed and intended for your business needs. Digital marketing is the promotion of brands and products using all means of electronic devices like cell phones, smart phones, tablets and personal computers. XWAPP (FinTech): XWAPP is a financial service application that allows users to send funds to other users. Ever had to queue for hours just to get your foreign currencies changed before embarking on a holiday? Running low on those currencies while already on holiday with no visible money changer/ bank in sight? Or paying high remittance fees while sending money to your loved ones back home? Fear not, XWAPP is here to resolve your issues! Touché - Exhibiting as CoolPay (SEA) (FinTech): Touché is a biometric solution that is transforming how businesses and their clients interact. It provides a unique buying experience combining merchants’ membership and loyalty programmes and payments. This enables rewards and entitlements to be given automatically at the point of interaction. The merchant has access to the buying history of their clients and can create specific offers. FITTHREE (Food Tech): FitThree is an online service to bring you convenient healthy meals. Simply order your weekly meals on our website and choose your favourite gym as a pick up location. Babykins (Health): Track your baby’s feeds, diaper changes, sleep and milestones, all in one handy app. Flag entries, create observation notes and share them on the community Q&A to get real-time feedback from other parents. Benchmark your baby’s progress over the last 7 days with similar babies to further understand his/her development. Park N Parcel (Logistics & Transportation): Park N Parcel is a Singapore based start-up offering an innovative last mile mailing service solution which provides shoppers with a convenient way to collect their online purchases in a hassle free manner by parking the parcels at various collection points which includes your neighbors, cafes, retail stores,convenience stores, and pharmacies. UI-licious (Others): We are changing the way people deliver high quality web applications. UI-licious allows web development teams to quickly and easily automate user interface tests for their websites. konbini (Others): konbini supplies vending machines & automated locker systems for the F&B and retail industries.we have customisable hot, cold, frozen and ambient temperature machines to ensure the perfect solution to solve your problems. Vizili (Real Estate): Vizili is the smart property advisor, a single App to get clear and simple information with recommendations from trusted professionals. We have a unique Visual Analytics platform, with AI Recommender tools that understand users preferences and helps both side of a transaction meet. Zipnow - Exhibiting as VIH Global Properties (Real Estate): ZipNow is going to change the Real Estate Landscape. Surge (Artificial Intelligence): Surge leverages voice and email data to automatically enter, clean and complete information into your CRM. Rendezvous (Enterprise Solution): Automated minutes taker for meetings using various speech-to-text software and creating a transcript from speech. Fixir (Logistics & Transportation): Fixir is the friend every driver needs. Whether your car breaks downs, needs a polish or is due for a wheel change, we’re here for you. Using Fixir is really simple, you just need to select the service you need and our reliable service providers will come to you in no time!

Congratulations to BizSpark Startup Cafebond Feature in CapitaLand Retail Future Conference 2017

Fri, 12 May 2017 11:41:00 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, Cafebond, was recently featured in a promotional video for CapitaLand Retail Future Conference 2017 alongside other amazing millennial entrepreneurs including Rachel Lim (co-founder of Love, Bonito), Aloysius Sng (founder of ReFash) and Kent Teo (founder of Invade.co). Cafebond offers a web and mobile platform that connects coffee lovers with the best coffee brands in the world, so you can taste and buy unique specialty coffee beans and blends from roaster-owned cafes from London to Melbourne, Singapore to Beijing, in one easy checkout process. To find out about Cafebond and their product offering, please visit their official website at https://www.cafebond.com/

Going to Singapore’s best tech conference?

Tue, 09 May 2017 04:53:10 +0000

What’s one event that brings together the best tech founders in the world, and also allows for picking up of tech trends and tips on growth, marketing, revenue, product, and more? Here’s where: Tech in Asia Singapore 2017. Immerse yourself in 2 full days of inspiring keynotes, innovative talks, educational breakouts, and tons of networking. Learn from entrepreneurs and topic experts who have been there, done that across 5 stages - Main Stage, Developer & Product Stage, Startup 101 Stage, Marketing Stage, and Revenue Stage. Headlining the Main Stage this year include Alexis Ohanian, Co-founder of Reddit; Min-Liang Tan, CEO of Razer; Quek Siu Rui, CEO of Carousell; Grace Yun Xia, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy from Tencent; Adi Tatarko, CEO of Houzz; Nick Nash, Group President at Garena; Maximilian Bittner, CEO of Lazada, and more! They will join more than 80 other inspiring speakers from around the world. Other highlights include: Bootstrap Alley: An exhibition of the region’s 280 startups across various industries, handpicked by Tech in Asia. Startup-Investor Speed Dating: A valuable opportunity for startups to pitch to 70 participating investors. Roundtables: An avenue for discussions with industry veterans over a variety of topics. Arena: Witness one of the most intense 7-way pitch battle, a staple in every Tech in Asia conference. Whether you’re a founder, wantrepreneur, developer, student, or anyone interested in the tech startup scene and looking to connect with over 4,500 ambitious tech geeks, this is one place you’ll feel just at home!

Sign Up for Future Food Asia Award 2017

Tue, 09 May 2017 01:46:08 +0000

Startup&Angels Singapore First Edition - Book your tickets now!

Tue, 09 May 2017 00:15:51 +0000

Thursday 25 May 2017 from 5.45pm

Impact Hub Singapore

128 Prinsep Street, #01-01, S(188655)

Discover amazing products, meet and learn from amazing and inspiring stories from local and global entrepreneurs! Join us for this first edition of Startup&Angels in Singapore, at Impact Hub!

A Sneak Peek at the SPEAKERS’ List

Julien Crochet, VP Sales @ AB Tasty AB Tasty is an AB Testing solution and one of the most innovative and fastest growing companies in the web industry in Europe, with six offices in New York, Paris, Madrid, Sydney, London and Cologne and soon Singapore! Mike Eksteen, VP Chief Digital Officer @ Chubb Chubb is the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurer. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. Mayur Singh, Founder @ Coopita

Meet our BizSpark Startups and Partners at Innovfest Unbound 2017

Wed, 03 May 2017 07:56:09 +0000

Innovfest Unbound 2017 is back with another exciting edition at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre from 3-4 May 2017, showcasing Asia’s most innovative developments and disruptive technologies. With over 11,000 registered guests participating in this anchor event for Smart Nation Innovations Week, it is a celebration of digital disruption with one of the largest gathering of entrepreneurs, brands, corporates, investors and tech startups from all around the world. As a strategic partner for Innovfest Unbound 2017, we are honored to be able to showcase innovative solutions from our top two Imagine Cup Singapore Teams:

Microsoft Student Partners 2016 Graduation

Mon, 01 May 2017 15:49:21 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_23756” align=“alignnone” width=“6000”] MSP16 Graduation Dinner Group Photo[/caption] On the 29th of April 2017, the Microsoft Student Partners batch of 2016 had their graduation dinner which was held at Harry’s bar, South beach. This dinner was in appreciation of the hard work and efforts the MSPs have put into the programme for the past year. The dinner was graced by members of our leadership team as well as various representative lecturers from the various tertiary institutions. In 2016, the Microsoft Student Partners achieved many accomplishments with over 50 workshops, talks and roadshows combined organized across all the schools! This has shown how influential our student community of about 140 passionate individuals are.

Channel 8 News Feature on BizSpark Startup – Park N Parcel

Sat, 29 Apr 2017 13:52:03 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, Park N Parcel, was recently featured in Channel 8 News feature. Park N Parcel is a Singapore based start-up offering an innovative last mile mailing service solution which provides shoppers with a convenient way to collect their online purchases in a hassle free manner by parking the parcels at various collection points which includes your neighbors, cafes, retail stores,convenience stores, and pharmacies. To find out about Park N Parcel and its product offering, please visit their official website at https://www.parknparcel.com.sg/ Check out Channel 8 News feature at http://www.channel8news.sg/news8/ca/frontline/episodes/20170428-fl-tx3/3702626.html

Congratulations to BizSpark Startup Cafebond for entering Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre Global Accelerator Program

Sat, 29 Apr 2017 13:35:43 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, Cafebond, was successfully admitted into the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC) Global Accelerator Program (GAP) in Malaysia which accelerates global startups to be investment-ready in 4 months. Cafebond offers a web and mobile platform that connects coffee lovers with the best coffee brands in the world, so you can taste and buy unique specialty coffee beans and blends from roaster-owned cafes from London to Melbourne, Singapore to Beijing, in one easy checkout process. To find out about Cafebond and their product offering, please visit their official website at https://www.cafebond.com/

ACE Microsoft Tech Talks - Smart Contracts using Microsoft Blockchain as a Service

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:57:58 +0000

To coincide with the upcoming Smart Nation Innovations, a week-long series of events that showcase Asia’s most innovative developments, we held a special edition of ACE Microsoft Tech Talks where Ujjwal presented a session on Smart Contracts using Microsoft Blockchain as a Service. Despite their busy schedule, the crowd responded warmly to the event, with over 60 sign-ups and a turnout of over 40 participants comprising of startups, developers, and industry professionals. During the session, Ujjwal shared insights into setting up the environment for Blockchain using Azure templates, and adopting industry practices for Smart Contracts with various use cases. At the end of the session, the audience mingled over light refreshments, and connected with Ujjwal to find out more about the latest developments of Blockchain and the applications of Smart Contracts. You can review the presentation at this link: Smart Contracts A big round of applause to our presenter, Ujjwal, and our audience for taking time off from their busy schedule to attend this session. Special thanks to Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) for being our great event partner for “ACE Microsoft Tech Talks”. Check out our Spiffy Facebook Events to find out our upcoming activities in LaunchPad.

Sign Up for Space Apps Challenge 2017

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 08:15:01 +0000

NASA is on a mission to foster innovation through a diversity of perspectives and is encouraging global citizens to come together to solve perplexing problems faced by NASA Scientists on a daily basis. The Space Apps Challenge is one of the largest hackathons in the universe and part of the NASA’s Open Innovation Programme. For 48 hours, passionate innovators and problem solvers from all over the world are welcome to join the Space Apps Challenge, and create solutions that will be part of the next generation of space technology! Take part in the Space Apps Challenge this weekend, Saturday-Sunday, 29-30 April. Prototype your solution, consult with expert mentors, pitch to a panel of judges, and stand to win a chance to represent Singapore!

Submit Your Nomination for Singapore infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF) Awards 2017

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 08:18:50 +0000

The annual SiTF Awards is the only award that is organised by the ICM industry for the industry in Singapore and is supported by government agencies such as GovTech, SPRING and other industry associations such as Singapore Computer Society (SCS) and IT Management Association (ITMA). The objective of the award is to promote and celebrate local innovations in ICM solutions and products. Recognising the impact of new disruptive technologies and the changing technology landscape, SiTF introduces the new sub-categories for the Best Innovative Infocomm Product or Solution and a new category for the Peregrine Falcon Investor Award. The Awards are open to all Singapore-registered companies, organisations, and educational institutions. The categories for the Awards include:

Team HeartSound - 1st Runners Up, Microsoft Imagine Cup Southeast Asia Finals

Tue, 25 Apr 2017 06:08:52 +0000

25 April 2017 - Team HeartSound from Singapore emerges the 1st Runners Up in the Microsoft Imagine Cup Southeast Asia Finals! Team HeartSound showcased their wearable S3 smart stethoscope which tracks abnormal heart sounds to improve health. Congratulations to Anthony Chew, Sean Wong and Lian Min for their hard work and for achieving this amazing feat! They will be flying to Seattle to take part in the Worldwide Finals. Joining them will be 6 other teams from Nepal, Bangladesh, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Philippines! Read more about Team HeartSound and their solution at our blog posts here. #ImagineCupSEA #ImagineCup

Microsoft Imagine Cup Southeast Asia Finals - Event Report

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 07:47:24 +0000

To celebrate the inaugural edition of Imagine Cup Southeast Asia (SEA) Finals in the Philippines, we held a special live streaming event at Nanyang Polytechnic where fellow students could cheer and support their classmates in Team HeartSound which competed for a coveted spot in the Global Finals.

During the live streaming event, students enjoyed delicious popcorn and candy floss while they viewed the Imagine Cup SEA Finals. Our Microsoft Student Partners were also on-site to assist students with Office 365 installations and enquiries. When Team HeartSound came on stage at around 10:30am, the crowd cheered for their team and shouted words of encouragement which was broadcasted back to the audience in the Philippines. Congratulations to Team HeartSound from Nanyang Polytechnic for making it to the Southeast Asia Finals and we look forward to the results! Enjoy the rest of your trip! - Shawn Tjai On behalf of the Microsoft Imagine Cup Singapore Team

Imagine Cup 2017 SEA Regional Finals Livestream

Sat, 22 Apr 2017 13:02:18 +0000

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Vote For Your Favourite Team!

](https://aka.ms/icseavote)

Join us here at the Imagine Cup Southeast Asia Finals livestream on Spiffy! Watch the full action starting from 24 April 2017, 9AM (GMT+8)! Live updates will be posted on our Facebook Page as well so be sure to stay tuned! Remember to VOTE for your favourite teams! The most-voted team will receive a special award - the People’s Choice Awards! Voting can be done through this link here or from the button above. Imagine Cup is a global competition that empowers the next generation of computer science students to team up and use their creativity, passion and knowledge of technology to create applications that shape how we live, work and play. Every year tens of thousands of students from across the globe compete for cash, travel and prizes and for the honor of taking home the Imagine Cup! At its 15th year anniversary, Imagine Cup is proud to partner with ASEAN Business Advisory Council and Philippine Airlines to host the first-ever Southeast Asia Regional Finals, in celebration of the 50th year anniversary of ASEAN. From APRIL 23 - 26, 2017, Ten national champions will be gathered from around the region to compete at this 4-day event for the honor to represent the region at the Worldwide Finals, and the chance to compete for cash, prizes, travel opportunities and the ultimate glory of taking home the Imagine Cup!

Nurturing a new generation of innovators with Digital Maker Programme

Mon, 17 Apr 2017 07:28:27 +0000

As Singapore embraces a digital economy and looks towards achieving our vision of becoming a Smart Nation by 2025, at the centre of it all is our people. In our continuous effort to nurture a new generation of digitally fluent citizens with a computational thinking mindset through our Code for Change efforts, and aligning this with the newly announced Digital Readiness Programme Office within the Ministry of Communications and Information, Microsoft and the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA) inked a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) to launch and collaborate on a 2-year Digital Maker Programme (DMP). The DMP was officially launched by Minister for Communications and Information, Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim, during his Ministry’s workplan seminar held at the Furama Riverfront Hotel on April 13, 2017. The DMP aims to increase STEM awareness and uptake in Singapore, nurture a new generation of digitally fluent citizens, imbued with a Computational Thinking mindset and giving people the ability to be digital creators and makers. This will allow Singapore to cultivate a community of innovators with the culture of collaboration, co-creation and empowered real-world problem solving using Microsoft’s technology. Over the next 2 years, the programme will introduce making and creating with technology using an entry-level codable microcontroller known as the micro:bit to inspire students and adults to explore the possibilities of digital making. The micro:bit was first launched in the United Kingdom (UK) to all Year 7/8 and S1 students in March 2016 (News reference here). To find out more about the programme, you can refer to the following featured news articles:

Top 3 Resources for Startups Developing on Microsoft Azure

Tue, 11 Apr 2017 05:22:03 +0000

Top 3 resources for developing on Microsoft Azure

Microsoft offers startups and students alot of resources to get started on Microsoft Azure. Ranging from the Microsoft BizSpark program which provides free Azure credits and product keys, there is also the Microsoft Imagine program for students to host websites and download software for free. Here are the top 3 resources which you can use in your journey with Microsoft Azure.

Azure for Startups (Github)

This repository on github contains an array of guides which startups can use to kick start their journey on Azure. There are tutorials and sample code to help startups migrate from other platforms to Azure, as well as the different possible services which Microsoft offers. Visit the Azure for Startups Github page here.

Sign up for Blockchain Programming Class by BizSpark Startup, InfoCorp Technologies

Tue, 11 Apr 2017 04:18:22 +0000

InfoCorp Technologies has established a partnership with Coin Sciences Ltd of UK to incorporate their private blockchain platform Multichain into our solutions. Find out more about the press release at https://lnkd.in/fvj9EKW Coin Sciences Ltd has recently announced a collaboration with Wolfram Research who owns the Mathematica language and Wolfram|Alpha answer engine. Multichain will be integrated into the Wolfram Language and allow Mathematica users to store and retrieve data in a zero-configuration private blockchain deployed in the Wolfram Cloud. It speaks a lot about Multichain’s maturity (no puns intended) as private blockchain platform to be integrated into one of the world’s oldest programming language. Coin Sciences has also partnered with Seal software, the market leading platform for contract discovery and analytics. In a recent survey by ZDNet, Multichain was also named by large corporations as one of the enabling products for faster digital change. To celebrate this joyous occasion, InfoCorp Technologies is organizing a two-days hands-on blockchain programming class to be conducted at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) on the 20th and 21st of April to widen your blockchain exposure from a practitioner’s perspective.

Microsoft Imagine Cup Singapore - 2017 Winners

Mon, 10 Apr 2017 10:24:10 +0000

Team HeartSound from Nanyang Polytechnic Crowned Champions at the Microsoft Imagine Cup Singapore 2017

Having demonstrated their idea to bring a better and more accurate pre-diagnosis solution to patients who experience abnormal heart rhythms, they will now be flying to Manila, Philippines to compete in the SEA Imagine Cup 2017.

SINGAPORE, 10 April 2017 - Microsoft Singapore today crowned Team HeartSound from Nanyang Polytechnic as the Singapore champions of Microsoft Imagine Cup Singapore 2017. This year’s Imagine Cup saw over 65 project entries from the different tertiary institutions with solutions and applications ranging from virtual wardrobes, smart plant indoor growing and medical solutions to aid doctors. 2017 marks the 15th year which Imagine Cup has been running. Imagine Cup is an annual competition which inspires the youths of today to think out of the box and to develop solutions to solve problems on a world scale. As the winners of the Imagine Cup Singapore Finals, the team from Nanyang Polytechnic will be flying to Manila, Philippines at the end of this month to take part in the South East Asian Imagine Cup 2017 in collaboration with the 30th ASEAN Summit. Here are some words from the winning team! Team HeartSound - “Humility and good attitude played a huge part in our team’s success.”

Strategies to acquire 15K users without spending marketing dollars at Microsoft Business Talk

Fri, 07 Apr 2017 10:51:11 +0000

One of the key challenges faced by startups has always been customer acquisition and one of Singapore’s leading EduTech startup, Miao Academy, was glad to share their own experience in acquiring 15,000 users without spending any marketing dollars in an exclusive “Microsoft Business Talk” session at NUS Enterprise Blk 71 on 7th April 2017. Miao Academy is an educational technology company specializing in machine learning and natural language processing. Their vision is to use technology to improve the learning effectiveness and efficiency of students, while at the same time lowering barriers to access. It aims to offer a simple, fast and cost-effective way to help students with specific academic problems. During the session, Betty and Ze Xuan from Miao Academy shared how they started from a simple prototype to 15,000 users for a beta product without spending any marketing dollars. They also shared about their interesting experiences and unique insights in the EduTech industry. Over 120 participants signed up for the event with a turnout of over 70 participants comprising of startups, developers, and industry professionals. The event was a hit with the community, and became one of the most well-attended session in this event series. At the end of the session, the audience connected with our team members and Miao Academy over light refreshments and discussed about potential future collaborations. Special thanks to Betty and Ze Xuan for taking time off from their busy schedules to present in our event. A big thank you to all event attendees and we are looking forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming events. You can review the presentation slides at: How do we achieve 15,000 users without spending marketing dollars.pdf To find out about Miao Academy and its product offering, please visit their official website at http://www.miao.academy/ Special thanks to NUS Enterprise Blk 71 for being our great event partner for “Microsoft Business Talk”. Check out our Spiffy Facebook Events to find out our upcoming activities in LaunchPad.

The Straits Times Feature on BizSpark Startup - Park N Parcel

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 13:51:54 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, Park N Parcel, was recently featured in The Straits Times feature. Park N Parcel is a Singapore based start-up offering an innovative last mile mailing service solution which provides shoppers with a convenient way to collect their online purchases in a hassle free manner by parking the parcels at various collection points which includes your neighbors, cafes, retail stores,convenience stores, and pharmacies. To find out about Park N Parcel and its product offering, please visit their official website at https://www.parknparcel.com.sg/ Check out The Straits Times feature at http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/firms-deliver-with-self-collection-option

Powering Advanced Analytics with Cortana Intelligence Suite at BASH Chope! Microsoft Innovation Huddle

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 08:38:52 +0000

After a long hiatus, “Microsoft Innovation Huddle” returns to BASH on 5th April where we explored advance analytics using the Cortana Intelligence Suite. This session coincides with the first release candidate of Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit version 2.0 available from 3rd April. (For more details, visit https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/machinelearning/2017/04/03/microsoft-updates-its-deep-learning-toolkit/) The community showed great support for our event with over 145 sign-ups and a turnout of over 80 participants comprising of startups, students, developers, and industry professionals. At the end of the session, the audience mingled over light refreshments, and connected with our team to find out more about the Cortana Intelligence Suite and their applications in real life scenarios. Special thanks to Alyssa for taking time off from her busy schedule to present in our event. A big thank you to all event attendees and we are looking forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming events. You can review the presentation slides at: Advanced Analytics Using Cortana Intelligence Suite Check out our Spiffy Facebook Events to find out our upcoming activities in LaunchPad. Special thanks to BASH and TAG.PASS for being our supporting event partners! Check out the latest news and events from BASH via Twitter @BASH_SGInnovate

Microsoft Student Partners 2017 Recruitment

Tue, 04 Apr 2017 11:20:25 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_23190” align=“alignnone” width=“3000”] Microsoft Student Partners Singapore[/caption] We are proud to announce the recruitment for Microsoft Student Partners (MSPs) Singapore 2017! Join thousands of students all around the world who are passionate for technology and keen to learn new things! Every day, in more than 100 countries around the world, thousands of MSPs share their deep knowledge and passion for technology with their fellow students. They master the latest technical content provided by Microsoft Imagine and share what they learn, building leadership and communication skills along with technical expertise. By being a part of the Microsoft Student Partners, you will be the forefront & ambassador of Microsoft technologies in your campus. If you have what it takes and would like to be a part of the Microsoft Student Partners, please remember to submit your application to us before the deadline! Recruitment for MSP Singapore 2017 opens from 10 12 April 2017, 12:00PM to 30 April 2017, 23:59PM.

The Business Times Feature on BizSpark Startup - #vinyloftheday

Mon, 03 Apr 2017 09:44:39 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, #vinyloftheday, was recently featured in The Business Times feature. #vinyloftheday is a social mobile e-commerce platform for record collectors where users can manage their collections and wish-lists, discover new music and interact with other fellow collectors. #vinyloftheday will feature music pieces, individuals, collectives and their emotional experiences of the analogue world through various online and physical platforms as well as the freshest music related news. Join the movement by including #vinyloftheday on your vinyl of the day pictures that you post on Instagram and follow #vinyloftheday on Facebook for more updates. To find out about #vinyloftheday and its product offering, please visit their official website at https://www.vinyloftheday.com/ Check out The Business Times feature at http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/lifestyle/music/weekend-set-to-get-loud-0

ACE Microsoft Tech Talks - Connecting and Building The Internet of Things

Fri, 31 Mar 2017 06:44:38 +0000

To coincide with the international conference and exhibition on the Internet of Things (IoT Asia 2017), a special edition of ACE Microsoft Tech Talks was held where Gerald shared his insights on the Internet of Things (IoT) and how the audience could connect and build their own IoT solutions using Microsoft Azure Platform. As an added bonus, we have specially invited our Microsoft BizSpark Startup and Partner, Overdrive, to provide a short presentation about their IoT platform This session was warmly received by the community, with over 105 sign-ups and a turnout of over 40 participants comprising of startups, developers, and industry professionals. During the event, our Microsoft BizSpark Startup and Partner, Overdrive, provided an exclusive showcase into their next generation IoT (Internet of Things) platform. Overdrive specializes in custom IoT solutions to help you better connect, communicate, and control your devices. From managing fleet to securing homes, tracking deliveries to ensuring your child’s safety; Overdrive wants to help you connect the things that move. At the end of the session, the audience mingled over light refreshments, and connected with Gerald and Overdrive to find out more about Azure IoT services and their applications in real life scenarios. Below is a list of resources for the session:

ACE Startup Career Fair 2017

Thu, 30 Mar 2017 10:09:20 +0000

More than 100 startups (including AiTreat, Miao Academy, Surge, KeyReply) offering over 300 full-time, part-time and internship positions were featured in the Startup Career Fair 2017 organized by Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE). Besides numerous exciting job opportunities, exclusive workshops and panel discussions were held to allow the public to better understand the opportunities available in the startup ecosystem. Here’s a quick introduction to some of our BizSpark Startups featured in the Startup Career Fair: Miao Academy: http://www.miao.academy/ “Miao is an educational technology company specialising in machine learning and natural language processing. Our vision is to use technology to improve the overall learning experience of every student while reducing the human and monetary cost involved. We aim to offer a far more simple, fast and cost-effective way to help students with specific academic problems.” AiTreat: http://aitreat.com/ “AiTreat is the first company in the world to develop commercial TCM massage robot. We have PCT patent and will continue to perfect the intellectual protection in our various area.” EventNook: https://www.eventnook.com/ “EventNook offers simple & complete event management software to create online event registration website, manage registration and sell tickets online.” ACKCIO: https://ackcio.com/ “Ackcio uses a wireless and more affordable monitoring system that is able to reduce the clients’ operational costs by more than three times.” Meme Analytics Pte Ltd: http://memeanalytics.com/ “Meme Analytics provides business intelligence solutions that has been successfully applied in the field of logistic scheduling and planning. Its solutions can be applied to a broad scope of possibilities in intelligent decision support, analytics and optimisation system for supporting large scale real world engineering problems such as urban transportation and supply chain governance.” Otonomos: https://www.otonomos.com/ “We built an online control panel for everything you needto setup and govern your companies around the world.” Coddle: http://www.coddlehealth.com/ “Coddle is a platform that empowers care seekers like yourself to find accompaniment support, known as Coddlers, for your loved one quickly and easily.” KeyReply: https://keyreply.com/ “KeyReply is an AI engine to turn your conversational and text data to insights. Automatically engage customers for your business with a chatbot. Launch on platforms like Facebook Messenger, Slack, SMS, website, mobile apps and more.” Special thanks to Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) for inviting us to the Startup Career Fair 2017 to engage with the startup community! Check out our Spiffy Facebook Events to find out our upcoming activities in LaunchPad.

Big Data Intelligence Kopi Chat at NUS Enterprise Blk71

Wed, 29 Mar 2017 08:44:19 +0000

On 29th March, NUS Enterprise Blk 71 held its Kopi Chat Deep Dive Series where we delve deep into Big Data Intelligence and the evolution of innovation. It was a gathering of different key players in the ecosystem with open and creative conversations on Big Data Intelligence and its impact in innovation and the startup ecosystem. The panel of speakers included representatives from NUS Enterprise, GovTech, Taiger, and Fresco Capital. Besides an exciting panel discussion, the event also featured an exhibition featuring startups and partners within the ecosystem which includes BizSpark Startups, Impress.ai and Surge. Surge: http://www.surgebots.com/ Impress.ai: https://impress.ai/ Below is a list of couple of resources that are applicable for Big Data Solutions such as Cognitive Services, Bot Framework and Machine Learning:

2017 SingularityU Singapore Global Impact Challenge

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 10:26:45 +0000

On Tuesday 14th March, we kicked off the official launch of the inaugural Global Impact Challenge Singapore 2017 edition organised by Silicon Valley-based Singularity University, a world-leading community of leaders, thinkers and innovators applying exponential technologies to address humanity’s grand challenges. It doesn’t get any bigger than this. The winner of the Singapore challenge will secure a full sponsorship to attend the prestigious Global Solutions Program (June-August 2017) at Singularity University in Silicon Valley!Do you think you can build the next big healthcare solution that will benefit millions of people across Asia? Are you passionate about bringing a moonshot innovation from idea to reality? If so, we’re looking for you! This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for those dreamers who want to solve the big, global challenges that will revolutionise the delivery of healthcare across Asia, and impact the lives of billions of people. Click here to enter the Global Impact Challenge, make your submission, and tell us about your revolutionary idea to change the delivery of healthcare across Asia, and impact billions of people! Our experience is to not leave things to the last minute, and start the process now to make sure you have enough time to fine-tune and polish your submission to be the best it can be. If this isn’t for you, please forward to a friend so we can spread the moonshot thinking love!

JTC LaunchPad @ one-north Housewarming Party

Wed, 22 Mar 2017 14:34:22 +0000

On 22nd March, Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) celebrated the growth of the startup community by organizing the JTC Launchpad@one-north Housewarming Party to welcome over 200 new tenants in three brand new blocks in LaunchPad. In conjunction with this celebration, it also organized a special event fo the unveiling of Startup SG and a panel discussion at ACE Ideation Centre. (For more details, refer to http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/s-20m-to-be-set-aside-for-first-time-entrepreneurs/3615874.html). LaunchPad currently houses over 800 startups and 50 incubators/accelerators. With the unveiling of three new blocks in LaunchPad, the startup community will grow to over 1,000 startups and 60 incubators/accelerators. To support our hub of startup activity in Singapore, a brand new umbrella branding known as “Startup SG” was launched earlier this month to unify the Singapore government’s wide range of support schemes for startups. A budget of around S$20 million is allocated to support first-time entrepreneurs under a new scheme called “Startup SG Founder” scheme. This new scheme would replace the existing ACE Startups Grant and iJam Tier 1 grant for first-time entrepreneurs and interactive digital media startups respectively. During the Housewarming Party, we were able to connect with various startups that have expressed a high level of interest in participating in our BizSpark Program. More importantly, we were able to demonstrate our continued support for our startup community and to reaffirm our strong commitment to the growth of the community. Here’s a quick look at the Housewarming Party: Special thanks to Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE) for organizing a successful housewarming party to celebrate the growth of our startup community!

Reimaging Security with XRVision at BASH Chope! Microsoft Startup Days

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 02:34:51 +0000

The popular “Microsoft Startup Days” returned to BASH on 15th March as part of the new event series BASH CHOPE! We were honored to host the founder of XRVision, Mr. Guy Ron, where he shared his entrepreneurial journey and how his startup is leveraging Microsoft technologies. The community responded enthusiastically to the event, with 105 sign-ups and a turnout of over 80 attendees comprising of a mixture of startup, students, developers and industry professionals. The audience was highly interested in the business model of XRVision and how they are utilizing Microsoft Azure Platform to build and grow their software solutions. Guy shared his startup journey, the use of Microsoft technologies in his solutions, and how Microsoft BizSpark Program is supporting the startup community with software resources and business networks to build traction and accelerate growth. Special thanks to Mr. Guy Ron for taking time off from his busy schedule to share his entrepreneurial journey with us. A big thank you to all event attendees and we are looking forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming events. Follow XRVision LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/company/xrvision for the latest news and updates. Check out our Spiffy Facebook Events to find out our upcoming activities in LaunchPad. Special thanks to BASH and TAG.PASS for being our supporting event partners! Check out the latest news and events from BASH via Twitter @BASH_SGInnovate

Imagine Cup 2017 Singapore Finals on April 10th, 2017 - Experience a day of competition, collaboration and celebration.

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 00:49:53 +0000

Experience firsthand how the Imagine Cup 2017 Finals shares insights, fuels innovation and drives global impact

On April 10th, Microsoft Singapore will be holding the Imagine Cup 2017 Finals and we would like to invite all Institutions to assist us in marking this occasion.

Imagine Cup 2017 – Passion, Creativity & Knowledge of Technology

Singapore Business Review Feature on BizSpark Startup - Kobe Global Technologies

Thu, 16 Mar 2017 08:47:15 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, Kobe Global Technologies, was recently featured in a Singapore Business Review feature on moving influencers closer to advertisers. Kobe Global Technologies specializes in providing a AI-driven advertising platform that pairs advertisers with relevant everyday influencers, leveraging on their ability to broadcast messages to millions of users so that businesses can get represented in front of their target audience in a credible manner. Read our special feature on the founder of Kobe Global Technologies, Evangeline Leong, at https://www.weshipcode.com/startup/startup-feature-getkobe-founder-evangeline-leong/ To find out about Kobe Global Technologies and its product offering, please visit their official website at http://getkobe.com/ Check out their Singapore Business Review feature at http://sbr.com.sg/markets-investing/exclusive/kobe-global-technologies-makes-influencers-closer-advertisers

Singapore Transportation Landscape and Key Trends in Business Transportation

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 07:59:53 +0000

Exclusive discount code for BizSpark startups: MSSU20

Registration at https://goo.gl/forms/WR9uTRmFLKHGh2ed2

Singapore Community Leaders Meetup!

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 22:31:15 +0000

Community Leaders Meetup is an initiative driven by DX Corp in collaboration with DX Singapore as part of our extended efforts to build and strengthen relationships with the influencers which include Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) and Community leaders (community influencers from IT Industries). March 13th. Hosted by Community Program Manager So Young Lee in partnership with Audience Marketing Lead Lilian Quek, we would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to all our Singapore MVPs, Community Leaders and team members from Microsoft Singapore and Korea for their great support to our March series of “Community Leaders Meetup!” Attendees:

Channel NewsAsia Feature on Co-Founder of Call Levels, Cynthia Siantar

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 06:57:16 +0000

(Credit: Channel NewsAsia) One of our BizSpark startups, Call Levels, was recently featured in Channel NewsAsia where it provided an exclusive look into a day in the life of Cynthia Siantar, co-founder of Call Levels. In financial markets, priority clients have the advantage of being the first to know when prices reach critical levels. Unfortunately, this is also an inefficient and expensive process of price monitoring that is not provided to most market participants. Call Levels was born to close this gap by providing this “make or break” financial information to all players big and small. Since its launch, Call Levels has liberated tens of thousands of traders and investors from being tethered to their trading desk 90 hours a week, and ease up their time to focus on a richer array of pursuits: investment strategies, quality time with family, personal hobbies, etc. To find out about Call Levels and its product offering, please visit their official website at https://www.call-levels.com/sg/ Check out the Channel NewsAsia feature at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/tv/women-in-business/3588248.html

Tech in Asia Feature on BizSpark Startup – KeyReply

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 05:58:16 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, KeyReply, was recently featured in a Tech in Asia feature on their use of chat bots to push the boundaries of automation. KeyReply identifies key insights from your customer conversations and automates your customer engagement and support using your own Facebook Messenger, web or app bot. To find out about KeyReply and its product offering, please visit their official website at https://keyreply.com/ Check out their Tech in Asia feature at https://www.techinasia.com/talk/startup-pushing-boundaries-automation-chatbots

Meet BizSpark Startup Babbobox at Microsoft Tech Summit Singapore

Mon, 13 Mar 2017 07:36:22 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, Babbobox, is showcasing its product offerings at Microsoft Tech Summit Singapore from 13-14 March 2017. Babbobox provides a powerful, unified search engine that allows users to search for content in Documents, Audio and Video assets while providing functionalities such as Video-On-Demand, Office Online, Active Directory, Multi-Tier Security, and Version Control. Read about our special feature on its founder, Mr. Alex Chan, at https://www.weshipcode.com/startup/startup-feature-babbobox-founder-alex-chan/ To find out about Babbobox and its product offerings, please visit their official website at http://www.babbobox.com/

Microsoft Business Talk - Using AI and Cognitive Services to Transform Customer Experiences

Fri, 10 Mar 2017 07:59:27 +0000

After two successful Business Talk sessions in 2016 which generated a lot of buzz in the community, we were excited to welcome back Pratima to Blk 71 with another hot tech topic where she shared how AI and Cognitive Services are helping businesses to transform customer experiences. Despite the heavy downpour, the community responded enthusiastically to the event, with over 60 sign-ups and a turnout of over 35 participants comprising of startups, developers, and industry professionals. One of the key highlights of the session was discussing about real-life scenarios where AI and Cognitive Services are improving customer experiences. At the end of the session, the audience connected with our team members over light refreshments, with numerous participants were eager to connect with Pratima and to arrange for follow-up discussions and future collaborations. Below is a list of resources for the session:

FOSS Asia Summit - Mission Mars Challenge!

Thu, 09 Mar 2017 06:49:21 +0000

Mission Mars Challenge!

Commissioned under the top-secret space project, our first human team had set foot months ago. This mission on the red planet begun with the quest to establish civilization by creating our first outpost on an extraterrestrial body. Not so long ago, the mission control lost contact with the crew, and we are gathering the best of mankind to help save this mission. In this rescue mission, you will learn to create a bot using an open source framework and tools. You will be given access to our code repositories and other technical resources. We have 3 mission and 2 code challenge to solve in order to bring the Mars mission back on track. We need you! Be the first to crack the problems and rescue the compromised mission! Your bounty awaits! Receive your mission briefing at the control centre after checking-in at the FOSS Asia Summit! How to enter:

Congratulations to BizSpark Startup Emmfer for entering Vikingcubator

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 04:59:11 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, Emmfer, recently won a pitching competition and earned a coveted spot in Vikingcubator, an acceleration program in Singapore which assists startups with mentoring, investment, and resources from the company in a 120-day program. Emmfer specializes in developing artificial intelligence solutions to create a new paradigm in advertising research. To find out about Emmfer and its product offering, please visit their official website at https://www.emmfer.com/ Check out the special report coverage by Tech In Asia regarding the pitching competition at https://www.techinasia.com/vikingcubator-pitching-competition

Imagine Cup 2017 Singapore Finalists Announced!

Mon, 06 Mar 2017 10:01:28 +0000

Dear Institutions, We are super excited to announce the top 6 competitors from the Semifinals who will advance on to the finals! We applaud the time and energy you’ve poured into developing your projects. Keep it up! We also want to extend our greatest appreciation to all the mentors who supported their teams. Such interest and dedication goes a long way in shaping the futures of students. In alphabetical order based on the Team’s Name, the 6 Finalists of the 2017 Imagine Cup are: Once again, we congratulate all teams for participating in the Imagine Cup 2017 competition. It’s a huge accomplishment. We’re confident that you will find opportunities to apply the valuable skills gained from this experience in the near future. Next steps for Finalists Finalists are expected to join us for the final round of judging on April 10th, 2017 and opportunity to represent Singapore at the SEA Imagine Cup 2017 in the Philippines from April 23-26, 2017. Please stay tuned for specific instructions on next steps which will be sent via email shortly. Do follow us on Spiffy.sg | Spiffy Facebook, or check the Imagine Cup 2017 website news page for updates. Thanks Lilian Quek together with team – Chun Siong Tan | Kyzer Wong | Shawn Tjai

Channel NewsAsia Feature on BizSpark Startup - Miao Academy

Thu, 02 Mar 2017 04:34:19 +0000

(Photo Credit: Tang See Kit/Channel NewsAsia) One of our BizSpark startups, Miao Academy, was recently featured in a Channel NewsAsia feature. Miao Academy is an educational technology company specializing in machine learning and natural language processing. Miao Academy’s vision is to use technology to improve the learning effectiveness and efficiency of students, while at the same time lowering barriers to access. It aims to offer a simple, fast and cost-effective way to help students with specific academic problems. Miao Academy’s main product is a mobile application called Miao. Students can ask questions using Miao simply by snapping a photo and instantly access relevant and personalized learning resources to resolve those questions. Miao’s proprietary algorithms will process the question, understand its content and context, and point you to resources such as guided solutions, educational videos, concept explanations and similar questions. Miao is able to provide a customized response to every individual query within a matter of seconds, without any real manpower behind the application. Students can also get personalized analytics to spot their areas of weakness in real time for further improvement. To find out about Miao Academy and its product offering, please visit their official website at http://www.miao.academy/ Check out their Channel NewsAsia feature at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/tech-start-ups-cram-into-singapore-s-education-sector/3552980.html

Startup Feature: NephTech CEO and Co-founder, Dr. James Lim

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 02:32:49 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_22234” align=“alignnone” width=“3264”] NephTech Team – Toh Yan Ling and James Lim (from left to right)[/caption] 1. Hello! What’s your current role in your start-up, and how did your past experiences take you here? I’m the CEO and co-founder of NephTech, a medical technology company focusing on providing dialysis centres and patients a quick, easy, and non-invasive means of monitoring their special dialysis blood vessel which unfortunately is very prone to blockages at the moment. I’m a biomaterials scientist by training and have been in MedTech R&D space for 8 years now. My previous A*STAR spin-off experience, which is also in kidney space, helps too! Yanling, my co-founder, who is medical device regulatory affairs trained is invaluable as we get to consider and design the medical product for regulatory approval early in the product developmental stage. 2. Which 3 words would describe you best? Passionate, Persevering and Risk-taker 3. How did you come up with the idea? And what problem is your start-up trying to solve? We were working on a dialysis related medical device spin-off from A*STAR 3 years ago and through the clinical developmental process, we realised that blood vessel surveillance is actually a huge problem for dialysis centres and patients. Approximately a third of national healthcare budget for this clinical disease is spent on blood vessel complications such as blockages. This is a significant cost component that could be better managed. After talking to our clinicians, they also acknowledged the urgency of the situation. And so we dived straight in! Quick, easy, and non-invasive monitoring technique. Being a user-centric start-up, our approach has always been designing for need rather than technology push. Understanding real on-the-ground problem is a long and tedious process, we had interviewed numerous local dialysis centres owners, collectively representing 70% of local dialysis centres, to get a good sensing on how this solution should be integrated with their workflow. Needless to say, we will keep up this continual customer engagement in every step of our product development. 4. How long did your start-up take to finish development? (Before the product could meet the market) Unfortunately, medical device industry is heavily regulated. While product development should complete within 1 – 1.5 years, we will likely get to sell in market 2.5 – 3 years from now after completing clinical trials and regulatory clearance. 5. What are your preferred platforms/tools? Of course it’s Microsoft Azure! The Technical Evangelists have been of great help! They have been sharing with us the various Microsoft technologies that we tap into to help us achieve faster product development. 6. Have you gotten any interesting feedback from users of the app/solution? 70% of local dialysis centres! And Singhealth is now our clinical partner. Naturally, all these feedback has been circling around performance and usability which we are working hard on it now. End of the day, all of us are in it to make it better for our patients! 7. How do you keep yourself motivated, especially during the low times? Passion and believing in what you do goes a long way. Of course when times are tough, I will grab a few pints of my favourite ‘creative’ juice (BEER)! 8. If you could go back in time when you first started, what would you have done differently? Nothing. Team, team and team is the most important factor for the success of any start-up unless you have access to a ‘fountain of wealth’. Yanling and I had fought through hardship in our previous start-up so we knew each other strengths and weaknesses and this beats any other factors. 9. What’s next for you? Build great products and touch the lives of our patients! 10. What’s one advice you would give to budding entrepreneurs? The longest journey you will ever take is the 18 inches from your head to your heart. So make sure you have a passion for what you are about to do. While the fear of failing should never be disregarded, your willingness to fail is what gives you the ability to succeed.

ACE Microsoft Tech Talks - Data as a Service using Azure Data Tools

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 09:36:50 +0000

After a sell-out crowd in Nov-2016 where Alyssa shared her insights on the leading trends for the chatbot movement, she is back with another hot discussion topic for “ACE Microsoft Tech Talks” on Data as a Service where she shared her experiences with using Microsoft Azure Data Tools including Cognitive Services and Machine Learning. The crowd responded enthusiastically to the event, with over 100 sign-ups and a turnout of over 70 participants comprising of startups, developers, and industry professionals. At the end of the session, the audience mingled over light refreshments, and a large portion of the participants rushed forward to connect with Alyssa and to seek her advice on the topic discussed and how it could apply to their businesses. Below is a list of resources for the session:

Channel 8 News Feature on BizSpark Startup – Cafebond.com

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 11:05:17 +0000

One of our BizSpark startups, Cafebond.com, was recently featured in a Channel 8 News feature. Cafebond.com offers a web and mobile platform that connects coffee lovers with the best coffee brands in the world, so you can taste and buy unique specialty coffee beans and blends from roaster-owned cafes from London to Melbourne, Singapore to Beijing, in one easy checkout process. To find out about Cafebond.com and their product offering, please visit their official website at https://www.cafebond.com/ Check out their Channel 8 News feature below. You can read about the news feature at http://www.channel8news.sg/news8/latestnews/20170130-biz-coffee-apps/3478048.html (Credit: Channel 8 News)

Channel NewsAsia Feature on BizSpark Startup - NephTech Pte Ltd

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:21:29 +0000

(Credit: Channel NewsAsia) One of our BizSpark startups, NephTech, was recently featured in a Channel NewsAsia feature. NephTech Pte Ltd is a medical technology company dedicated to provide patients and dialysis centres with an evidence-based approach to vascular access (VA) surveillance and management. Vascular access (VA) is hemodialysis patient’s lifeline, as it allows removal of body waste and excess water through hemodialysis, and without which patients do not survive beyond several days.. The company has conceptualized and is developing an innovative low cost VA surveillance technology for dialysis centres to address shortcomings of current state-of-the-art to achieve their Quality Initiative outcomes and reduce occurrences of lost revenues through early predictive clinical indications. This, NephTech strongly believes, addresses a vital unmet need to reduce the heavy financial expenditures in the hemodialysis space. To find out about NephTech and their product offering, please visit their official website at http://www.nephtech.sg/ Check out their Channel NewsAsia feature below:

Data Camp 2017

Tue, 14 Feb 2017 05:09:06 +0000

Data Camp 2017

The Singapore SQL Server User Group Team is happy to announce “Data Camp 2017”, a one day free event on SQL Server and Microsoft Data Platform technologies to be held on 11th March 2017. The event will feature top quality technical content delivered by Data platform experts in this region. A total of 15 topics to be deliver by speakers in this one full day event which include Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals, Microsoft Professionals and overseas speakers!

Inaugural Startup Career Fair at one-north

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 07:40:23 +0000

Inaugural Startup Career Fair held at the jtc LaunchPad@one-north, for startups to source for and hire talents Over 80 startup companies offering 200 full-time, part-time and internship positions More than 1000 participants expected (Entrepreneurs, PMETs, graduates and students) Why Join? A one stop platform for high potential technology-based startups to attract and recruit talent To meet Students and PMETs who are seeking job and internship placements To promote career opportunities in your startup Programme: 4.00pm : Launch of Career Fair 4.30pm - 6.30pm : Series of workshops (20–30 mins each) 5pm : Guided Tour of LaunchPad (Session 1) 6.30pm : Guided Tour of LaunchPad (Session 2) 8.00pm : End of Event Sign Up for Booth at https://www.eventnook.com/event/startupcareerfair2017booth

Understanding The Silicon Valley Startup Ecosystem

Thu, 09 Feb 2017 09:21:16 +0000

Interested in expanding into the US market? Join the upcoming talk by Singapore infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF) which covers the legal environment that a Singapore company looking to come to Silicon Valley might face. The talk is happening on 16th Feb, 4pm @ SiTF office. Entrance is free for SiTF members. Do hop over to http://bit.ly/2jFiXGb to register your attendance.

Getting Started with the Microsoft Bot Framework

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 07:47:27 +0000

The Microsoft Bot Framework provides a unified platform where a developer can deploy code once but reach multiple platforms such as Skype, Facebook Messenger or Telegram at the click of a button. The following example is built using the Microsoft Bot Framework, Language Understanding Intelligent Service, Microsoft Translator API and myTransport.SG API. This is an open source project & step-by-step installation guide to deploy a simple Bus Timing Bot. It is coded in Node.js but you can also use C# to build a bot. Please feel free to fork it for your own purposes.

ACE Microsoft Tech Talks - Bootstrapping Blockchain Technologies in Azure Platform

Fri, 20 Jan 2017 09:05:41 +0000

Following last week’s successful edition of “Microsoft Startup Days” where the founders of Attores (Mr. David Moskowitz and Mr. Gaurang Torvekar) shared how they are using Blockchain as a Service on Azure to power their Smart Contract platform, we continued the topic with a special edition of “ACE Microsoft Tech Talks” on 20th Jan where Ujjwal Kumar expanded upon the topic of Blockchain technologies. Over 50 participants attended the event which comprised of startups, developers, and industry professionals. During the session, Ujjwal shared insights into dev/test environment setup for Blockchain and how the technology can be implemented in various use cases and domains like Fintech and IoT. At the end of the session, Ujjwal received a warm round of applause from the audience and everyone rushed to engage with him to explore potential collaboration opportunities with Blockchain technologies in the Microsoft Azure Platform.. Below is a list of resources for the session:

Friends of Byte: Uli Hitzel (Microsoft APAC)

Thu, 19 Jan 2017 02:13:40 +0000

Byte Academy is a leader in industry-oriented technology education with courses in Python software development, FinTech (financial technology), Data Science, Blockchain and MedTech. Byte Academy established the first FinTech program in the world and the first Python fullstack software development bootcamp in its New York City headquarters. Friends of Byte is a monthly series of meetups organized by Byte Academy for guest speakers in FinTech, Data Science and Entrepreneurial / Start-up backgrounds. This month’s series features Mr Uli Hitzel, Senior Architect at Microsoft Asia Pacific. Uli will be talking about artificial intelligence, operating systems that span across the globe and ultimately, how he built a refreshingly depressed little chatbot using Python and Twitter. More about Uli Hitzel Senior Architect, Microsoft Asia Pacific Uli is a passionate technology evangelist and architect, based in Singapore. He’s usually working in startup-style teams that are responsible for emerging solutions and developing ecosystems for successful adoption & growth of the business. As a Senior Architect at Microsoft. Uli is focusing on Open Source, cloud application development and modern websites of massive scale. In previous years, Uli held roles at companies including IBM, Red Hat, Yahoo! and Hewlett-Packard. Register here

Microsoft Business Talk - Understanding Your Gifts & Passion for a Fulfilling Life & Career

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 05:03:31 +0000

To kickstart 2017, we held a special edition of “Microsoft Business Talk” at NUS Enterprise where Mr. Sarbjit Singh shared his personal experiences and insights into identifying and nurturing the gifts and passions of individuals to elevate your team’s performance to the next level. The event was well attended with over 30 participants comprising of startups, developers, and industry professionals. Based on his personal experiences, Sarbjit provided the following tips in finding a fulfilling career in life:

Azurenaut Weekend with NUS and Microsoft Student Partners Singapore

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 04:48:40 +0000

The Microsoft Student Partners (Singapore) recently collaborated with the National University of Singapore (NUS) in organising the Azurenaut Weekend @ NUS Hackathon, over the weekend of January 13-14, 2017. This hackathon targeted the use of Microsoft Azure as well as to increase awareness about our student initiatives such as the Imagine Cup, Microsoft Imagine as well as the Microsoft Student Partners. We kicked off the two-day event with an inspirational keynote by our special guest, Mr. Justin Garrett (Group Manager, Student Developer Evangelism, Microsoft), on the possibilities of Machine Learning, Predictive Analytics, Cognitive Services as well as Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit (CNTK). During Day 1 of the event, we held workshops at The Hangar in NUS Enterprise where Ms. Alyssa Ong (Technical Evangelist, Microsoft APAC), conducted a hands-on session on Microsoft Cognitive Services and Bot Framework. We are proud to be one of the first few countries to demo CNTK on an Azure N-Series virtual machine. During Day 2 of the event, we began the hackathon at Microsoft Singapore where the theme was: “Using your creativity, passion and knowledge of technology, build a solution that uses Microsoft Azure to shape how we live, work and play“. To kick-start the hackathon, Mr. Ujjwal Kumar (Senior Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Singapore), introduced the participants to Microsoft Blockchain-as-a-Service on the Azure Platform. Participants were given the day to utilize Microsoft Azure, and generate fresh and innovative solutions for everyday problems. After an intense day of hackathon, students created great ideas and innovative solutions with four teams standing out from the competition: 1st Prize: Team ScudTasks with their winning chatbot called “Greenbot” which helps individuals to identify recyclable materials via image recognition, and provide tips for recycling and suggestions for recycling centers. 2nd Prize: Team Fokus with their application that monitors user activities and prompts users to focus on their tasks whenever it detects that the users are idling and using non-work related applications such as social media sites. 3rd Prize: Team Dabaobot with a social chatbot that helps students to organize their lunch orders while generating revenue with their takeout services. Special Mention: Azure Holographic Team received a special mention due to their technical brilliance and ambitious idea at using Microsoft HoloLens with the Unity framework to visualize Azure resources. The hackathon and workshops were a huge success with over 88 participants comprising of undergraduates and polytechnic students from a cross section of NUS faculties, other universities as well as polytechnics across Singapore. More importantly, we were able to excite the community about Microsoft Cognitive Services and Bot Framework, with the winning team’s solution being a chat bot built using the Bot Framework. Special thanks to NUS Enterprise and Microsoft Student Partners Singapore for their great support in making this event a huge success!

Microsoft Startup Days - Creating Trust & Proof of Originality with Attores

Fri, 13 Jan 2017 07:20:03 +0000

The 3rd edition of “Microsoft Startup Days” was held on 13th Jan at BASH (LaunchPad, 79 Ayer Rajah Crescent), featuring the founders of Attores, Mr. David Moskowitz and Mr. Gaurang Torvekar. During the one-hour session, they shared their entrepreneurial journey on leveraging on Blockchain technologies to deliver Smart Contracts as a Service across various industries ranging from financial services to educational institutions. They also explained how they are leveraging on Microsoft BizSpark Program and Microsoft Azure Platform to propel and accelerate their growth. The event welcomed over 30 participants comprising of a mixture of startup founders, students, developers and industry professionals. The audience was highly interested in the business model of Attores and how they are utilizing Blockchain-as-a-Service on Azure to build and grow their platform. David and Gaurang shared about their startup journey, the use of Blockchain technologies in Smart Contracts to support various industries and institutions, and how BizSpark has supported them with software resources and business networks to build traction and accelerate growth. During Q&A, guests fielded questions regarding the Microsoft BizSpark Program and Microsoft Azure Platform and how they are able to leverage these offerings to scale their businesses. David and Gaurang highlighted the benefits of the BizSpark Program which provides comprehensive software support and technical assistance, and business connections within the Microsoft Partner Network to build partnerships and collaborations with various organizations. It was a great experience having David and Gaurang share their startup experiences. A big thank you to everyone for attending the event despite your busy schedules! We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events. Recap their presentation slides HERE and Follow their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/attorescom/ for all the latest news, events and product releases! Check out our Spiffy Facebook Events to find out our upcoming activities in LaunchPad. Special thanks to BASH and TAG.PASS for being our supporting partners for “Microsoft Startup Days”.

Microsoft Tech Summit

Thu, 12 Jan 2017 03:43:22 +0000

Gain valuable cloud skills at the Microsoft Tech Summit and take your career to the next level

Every day the Microsoft Cloud helps developers and IT professionals like you stay competitive in today’s digital transformation landscape. To help build your cloud and infrastructure skills, we’re hitting the road with our top engineers visiting cities around the world to deliver two days of free technical training. This year, there will be a Microsoft Tech Summit near you in Singapore on March 13-14, 2017 at the Marina Bay Sands. To keep up with the evolution of technologies, tools, and techniques that make up the Microsoft Cloud, the event offers a great opportunity to:

Imagine Cup 2017 Semifinalists Announced!

Tue, 10 Jan 2017 01:03:45 +0000

Dear Institutions, A sincere thank you to all who have submitted their proposals for the Imagine Cup 2017. You have successfully completed your first milestone! The submissions were incredible, and narrowing the field was next to impossible for our judges. But after much discussion and deliberation, we’ve now selected the 16 Semifinalists who’ll advance to the next round. Without further ado, here are the 16 Semifinalists! (in no particular order) Congratulations to those moving on and thanks again to everyone who threw their hat in the ring. You knocked our socks off! Next steps for Semifinalists. An email with the details will be sent to you on the Semifinals. Do keep a look out for it in your mailbox. Do follow us on Spiffy.sg | Spiffy Facebook, or check the Imagine Cup 2017 website news page for updates. Thanks Lilian Quek together with team – Chun Siong Tan | Kyzer Wong

Microsoft Tech Summit: Build your cloud and infrastructure skills with a two-day free technical training event.

Mon, 09 Jan 2017 01:15:11 +0000

Once a year, Microsoft’s top engineers hit the road to share their ideas about the latest cloud trends and technologies. On March 13-14, they’re coming to Singapore.

We invite you to join us at this free, two-day technical summit.

This Microsoft Tech Summit is geared towards IT professionals and developers. It features more than 50 technical sessions on a range of topics—from productivity and security to containers, big data, and more.

Azurenaut Weekend @ NUS Hackathon

Thu, 29 Dec 2016 13:49:02 +0000

Azurenaut Weekend @ NUS Hackathon

Day 1: Date & Time: Friday, January 13, 2017 (18:00 – 22:00) Venue: The Hangar, 21 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Singapore 119613 Day 2: Date & Time: Saturday, January 14, 2017 (08:00 – 19:00) Venue: Microsoft Singapore, Level 21, Auditorium, One Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018989 Register Now! Registration & Swags are on a first come first serve basis Be one of the first few Azurenauts from NUS & Join us for a fun-filled 2-day hackathon on Microsoft Azure. Form a team of up to two other friends for this hackathon. There will be workshops to help you get started with Microsoft Cognitive Toolkit, Microsoft Bot Framework as well as Microsoft Blockchain as a Service (BaaS). Also, there will be AWESOME FOOD, SWAGS (worth over $100) and of course, PRIZES (worth over $1700) to be won! Eligibility Criteria: Student at a tertiary institution as at 13th January 2017 Recommended age of 18 and above Proof of identity (Institution Matriculation Card) will be checked on the 14th of January *Terms & conditions apply!

Azure training to expand your skills

Tue, 27 Dec 2016 06:18:31 +0000

Whether you are just getting started in your own business transformation, are looking to differentiate yourself as an expert, or are proficient in another cloud solution and are looking to explore ways to become a multi-cloud expert to address any customer need – these trainings will help you become more profitable with the cloud. You need the skills to stand out in the IT industry. The range of training offers – including the courses that are available today and what Microsoft will add over the coming year – make these trainings to build Azure skills on any platform a sound investment. FREE! Learn and build your skills

Azure Resource Manager to prepare Linux VMs : Setting up a L2TP VPN Ubuntu Server on Azure

Wed, 14 Dec 2016 10:48:50 +0000

Having a VPN gateway is a super useful service to have, especially when you are accessing secured content over unsecured network such as public Wi-Fi infrastructure either at your home country or overseas. There are free VPN services which you can utilize on your mobile or PC, and being a shared service you might encounter less than optimal speed when accessing the Internet. For savvy computer users, they might opt to setup their own servers, be it Windows or Linux base with VPN service install.

Introducing the Azure Command Line Interface (Azure CLI) 2.0 Preview

Wed, 14 Dec 2016 06:25:33 +0000

Introducing the Azure Command Line Interface (Azure CLI) 2.0 Preview by Gerald Goh One of the most common comments from developers is that they didn’t know that Azure has a great cross platform command line interface. This allows you to work with and manage your workloads from Azure through the command line. Installation Instructions: https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli#install-with-interactive-install-script Tab Completion: https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli#tab-completion Creating a new Linux VM Login with the command line interface using az login Create a resource group using az resource group create –name linux-demo –location southeastasia Create a Linux VM in the linux-demo resource group with az vm create –name linux-vm –resource-group linux-demo –image UbuntuLTS –authentication-type ssh –public-ip-address-dns-name a-unique-dns-name –ssh-key-value ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub With this, I have just created a Ubuntu VM in my linux-demo resource group! These are just a few of the things that you can do with the Azure CLI, happy coding!

We Tech Care 2016

Mon, 12 Dec 2016 06:09:35 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_22761” align=“alignnone” width=“1620”] From left: (MSP) Azeem Vasanwala, (MD, Microsoft Singapore) Jessica Tan, (DPM) Tharman Shanmugaratnam[/caption] The December edition of Microsoft’s We Tech Care 2016 which was held on 10th December has just concluded! With over 700 registered participants taking part in the many fringe activities, charity booths as well as the Tech4Good workshops, everybody walked away with lots to share with their family and friends! [caption id=“attachment_22765” align=“alignnone” width=“1620”] Kodu Workshop[/caption] One of the highlights was the Hour of Code coding workshops conducted by the Microsoft Student Partners and Microsoft Volunteers. Topics covered includes working with Kodu, BBC’s micro:bit, Minecraft as well as WordPress hosting. Participants of the micro:bit workshop also had a chance to interact face to face with our Deputy Prime Minister, Tharman Shanmugaratnam when he was brought around the venue after his keynote. [caption id=“attachment_22767” align=“alignnone” width=“1620”] From left: (Singapore MSP Lead) Shawn Tjai, (MSP) Deddy Tandean[/caption] All participants of We Tech Care also had the chance to participate in the huge range of fringe activities, booths as well as listen to the keynote in the main auditorium. [caption id=“attachment_22770” align=“alignnone” width=“1620”] Deputy Prime Minister - Tharman Shanmugaratnam[/caption] Lastly, thank you to all MSPs, Microsoft Volunteers and the public for helping out and taking part in this edition of We Tech Care! It would not have been a success without all of your participation! For more information and news about our upcoming events, do stay tuned to the Microsoft Singapore Facebook Page!

Internet of Your Things - Fact versus Fiction at Microsoft Business Talk

Thu, 08 Dec 2016 02:12:22 +0000

On 2nd Dec, we held another successful edition of “Microsoft Business Talk” at NUS Enterprise where Pratima Amonkar discussed the topic of Internet of Things (IoT) whereby she distinguished fact from fiction. The event was attended by over 40 participants comprising of startups, developers, and industry professionals. During the session, Pratima shared her insights into the current state of IoT and the factors crucial for creating a successful ecosystem for IoT. In addition, she shared real-life IoT applications by Microsoft Partners such as ThyssenKrupp, Rockwell Automation, and Surbana Jurong. To find out more about how IoT is transforming industries, you can check out the following videos:

Christmas Made Perfect with O365 & Partner Christmas Celebration

Tue, 06 Dec 2016 02:16:40 +0000

Join us in an evening where we “unbox” the latest Microsoft Office 365 new apps, followed by a Christmas celebration of our 36th Partner Cloud Connections. Microsoft SMB team would like to invite all Partners to a learning and sharing session on 15nd December 2016 as we introduce the latest Office 365 new features and celebrate our exclusive 36th Partner Cloud Connections with joy! Date: December, 15th 2016, Thursday Time: 5.15pm-9.00pm (Registration starts from 5.00pm) Venue: Microsoft Auditorium Level 21 To REGISTER, send the below details to Christabel Soma:

We Tech Care - Empowering everyone through technology

Tue, 06 Dec 2016 01:39:00 +0000

At Microsoft, we believe technology can empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more – even those that the market does not reach.

After a successful edition last March, We Tech Care is coming back on December 10, 2016. Marking Microsoft’s 16th year in support of the President’s Challenge, We Tech Care is Microsoft Philanthropies’ annual flagship event in Singapore.

Open to the public, this event provides a platform to empower everyone through technology by creating opportunities for people of all ages to learn coding, connect the current generation of innovators with the next, raise awareness of innovative technologies that help solve societal issues, support digital inclusion programmes through non-profit partners and foster skill-based volunteering efforts.

Leading the Chat Bot Movement with Microsoft Bot Framework

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 02:55:23 +0000

On 25th Nov, we held another successful edition of “ACE Microsoft Tech Talks” at ACE Ideation Centre where we were honored to have Alyssa Ong to share her insights into leading the chat bot movement with Microsoft Bot Framework. Featured in VentureBeat as one of the 100 people to watch in the chat bot space, Alyssa has been working with bots since the early days of Microsoft Bot Framework’s release, and has published multiple bots publicly since. An all-round bot nerd, she is an active member of the Chatbots News community and loves discussing bots with others. Over 70 participants attended the event which comprised of startups, developers, and industry professionals. During the session, Alysaa provided an overview on the current state of the chat bot movement in the industry and showcased several ways in which chat bots could be used to improve the delivery of products and services to customers. At the end of the session, Alyssa received a warm round of applause from the audience and everyone rushed to engage with her to find out more about the Microsoft Bot Framework. Below is a list of resources for the session:

2017 Imagine Cup - Call for Proposals Now!

Tue, 22 Nov 2016 04:05:28 +0000

Imagine Cup is a global competition that empowers the next generation of computer science students to team up and use their creativity, passion and knowledge of technology to create applications that shape how we live, work and play. Every year tens of thousands of students from across the globe compete for cash, travel and prizes and for the honor of taking home the Imagine Cup! This year, we are bringing the best of the South-East Asia next generation together to showcase innovation that’s made possible through Cloud. Singapore Finals: The qualifying teams will compete at the Singapore Finals in Microsoft Singapore. More information will be updated in the near future. Regional Finals (SEA Imagine Cup 2017): Imagine Cup Singapore 2017 Finalist will represent Singapore at the regional finals and compete with 11 South East Asia Countries. Worldwide Finals: July 2017 Regional finalist will represent your country in the world finals in a location to be announced soon. Student Requirements: You are at least 16 years of age as of July 31, 2016 and are actively enrolled as a student at an accredited educational institution that grants high-school or college/university (or equivalent) degrees (including home schools) at any time between 1 January 2016 and 31 May 2017. 2017 Imagine Cup competitors will be required to use one or more Microsoft Azure services within their technology solutions. Please find more information in 2017 Imagine Cup Official Rules & Regulations Join us for the 2017 Imagine Cup Pre-brief workshop and Start your Journey NOW! Submit your proposals no later than 8th January 2017 @ 6pm to [Lilian Quek](mailto: lilianq@microsoft.com). Submit EARLY! For more information, visit 2017 Imagine Cup.

Modern Business Conference – Unlock your Digital Transformation

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 03:00:34 +0000

In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, every company is essentially a technology company. Every business and industry will undergo digital transformation as technology disrupts existing structures. In no business segment is the digital transformation having a greater impact than with small and midsize businesses. With digital technologies enabling the democratisation of IT, the multiplication of channels to deliver services and products, the astounding increase in work mobility and an incredible level of access to business data; SMB employees can be more effective than ever before. How is your business being digitally transformed? How is your core business model being changed by digital technology? Irrespective of the industry you are in, you have to start thinking and operating like a digital company. It’s no longer just procuring one solution and deploying one solution. Instead, it is building out what we refer to as systems of intelligence – digital feedback loops that help you engage with your customers, empower your employees, optimise your operations, and reinvent products and business models. At Microsoft, the business continues to raise expectations around the role that IT can play by aligning digital services into cross-company service offerings. We see that same expectation in every industry that Microsoft serves – including yours. We invite you to join us at the Modern Business Conference – unlock your Digital Transformation on Tuesday, November 29, 2016, as we come together to make digital transformation real for you and your organisation.

Diving into Docker on Azure

Mon, 14 Nov 2016 05:31:31 +0000

The 2nd edition of “Microsoft Innovation Huddle” was held on Friday, 11th Nov, at BASH LaunchPad where technical evangelist, Gerald Goh, provided a deep dive into Docker on the Microsoft Azure platform. Despite the heavy rain and traffic, the event was still attended by 15 participants comprising of startups and industry professionals who were eager to find out more about container services on the Microsoft Azure platform. The event was well received and the participants connected with Gerald to find out more about the architecture and services available on Azure. During the session, Gerald featured an introduction to Docker and how it can help startups and developers in their deployment workflow. Gerald provided a deep drive into building and deploying a Docker file on a Ubuntu Virtual Machine, and shared insights into the Azure container service and how orchestration frameworks such as Kubernetes and DC/OS can help simplify the Docker deployment workflow for the participants. Here’s a list of reference materials if you want to find out more about Docker on Azure: Azure Container Service

Microsoft Startup Days: A Chat with BiTS

Thu, 03 Nov 2016 05:00:19 +0000

The second edition of “Microsoft Startup Days” was held on 2nd November at BASH (LaunchPad, 79 Ayer Rajah Crescent), featuring BiTS who was founded by Jonathan Lee. During the one-hour session, they shared their entrepreneurial journey to deliver a set of solutions to businesses looking to modernize while also being less than a fraction of the market cost. They also explained how they are leveraging on Microsoft BizSpark Program and Microsoft Azure Platform to propel and accelerate their growth. [caption id=“attachment_22478” align=“alignnone” width=“1500”] BiTS Founder, Jonathan[/caption] Despite the rainy weather, we welcomed over 25 participants comprising of a mixture of startup founders, students, developers and industry professionals. The audience was highly interested in the business model of BiTS and how they improved scalability, resource management and security through Azure. They also talked about their startup journey and how BizSpark has supported them to build traction and gain customer trust. [caption id=“attachment_22482” align=“alignnone” width=“960”] Making use of Microsoft BizSpark and Azure for their business[/caption] Here are some key points which they covered during this session

Diving into Azure Machine Learning & Modeling

Fri, 28 Oct 2016 09:01:43 +0000

After two successful editions, “ACE Microsoft Tech Talks” is back with a deep dive into Azure Machine Learning and Modeling by Mr. Pradeep Menon, an experienced Data Science and Business Analytics professional with 13+ years of vast experience from multiple industries. The event was held at ACE Ideation Centre (28th Oct, 12pm) and drew over 40 participants comprising of startups, developers, students, and industry professionals. During the session, Pradeep introduced the fundamentals of Machine Learning and Modeling, and provided a demo on building models for specific use cases. One of the key learnings from the session was the importance of the “B.A.B.” model whereby data scientists are highly encouraged to consider Machine Learning as a tool to facilitate the following objectives:

Pitch your Tech- Disrupt the Laundry Experience

Thu, 27 Oct 2016 10:19:06 +0000

Pitch your tech to the world’s #1 consumer goods company to disrupt a $4 Billion USD business!

Fabric Care P&G pitch contest This is an open innovation competition to develop and pitch your tech to P&G wherein participants have a wonderful opportunity to secure SGD20,000 funds from P&G, partnership opportunity and other prizes. Entire global tech community including external community like developers, innovators and creators are invited to develop technology based solutions transforming laundry experience solving key consumer issues enabling consumers and their fabrics with focus on China and Japan markets. Visit http://pngchallenge.thehub.sg/ for more details and to register/participate

Launch of Sensing Cities Startup Call by TNB Ventures

Tue, 18 Oct 2016 02:58:15 +0000

Join the world’s first cross-industry, multi-level global call for innovations which will impact the way we live in Asia to create an aware & quantifiable way of life! TNB Ventures Sensing Cities Call is looking to fuel promising next-gen startups in the areas of AR/VR, IoT, Robotics, Big Data and AI. Aside from receiving seed/Series A funding & incubation, applicants will also stand a chance to be directly supported by successful market leading Ecosystem Partners & injected into their extensive infrastructure & networks. Visit https://goo.gl/Yyt3Eg to apply by 31st December!

Digital Transformation To Accelerate Growth and Enhance Customer Experiences

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:25:48 +0000

The 2nd edition of “Microsoft Biz Talks” occurred at NUS Enterprise on 7th Oct where we were honored to have Pratima Amonkar (Director, Partner Business for Independent Software Vendors and Solution Providers, Microsoft Asia Pacific) where she shared her experiences on digital transformation and how it can help to transform existing business models and accelerate growth. Despite the rain and heavy traffic, the business sharing session still attracted over 25-30 participants from a wide range of experiences (startups, developers, students, and industry professionals). The session was very well received, with numerous participants eager to connect with Pratima and the rest of the Microsoft team members present at the event. During the session, Pratima showcased how organizations are transforming their businesses by leveraging on technologies such as Internet of Things, Machine Learning, and Cognitive Services. When quizzed about the biggest obstacle to digital transformation, Pratima shared that obtaining the trust and commitment of top management to embark on a potentially risky and disruptive organizational change exercise is the first and most important step. After securing the mandate from top management, the change agents in the organization would be able to engage multiple teams within the organization to leverage technologies to transform their existing business processes, enhance customer experiences, and accelerate growth.

Startup Feature: BiTS Founder, Jonathan Lee

Tue, 04 Oct 2016 15:25:46 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_22239” align=“alignnone” width=“4032”] Jon and BiTS Team – Professor Ng Wee Keong, Adam Teng, Jonathan Lee, Melissa Lim, Deborah Lee (from left to right)[/caption] 1. Hello! What’s your current role in your start-up, and how did your past experiences take you here? As the company’s founder my primary focus is growing our core team and global network of over 70 consulting professionals. A background in engineering draws me towards building solutions that optimise processes, eliminate waste and generate value. My first start-up was a high-technology water treatment company that went bust in under a year. Working for and with other multinationals, government organizations and start-ups since then has provided firm grounding in reality. I no longer look only for long-term hypothetical value. Revenue and profitability are critical elements of business success - only a handful of unicorns manage to skirt this. Lining near and long-term value up has been an exciting process at BiTS. 2. Which 3 words would describe you best? Form follows function. 3. How did you come up with the idea? And what problem is your start-up trying to solve? Out of necessity. Under a Singapore-Myanmar JV two of our largest clients were looking at multiple seven-digit proposals for enterprise resource planning systems. We used open source tools to deliver a set of solutions for less than a fraction of the cost. BiTS was a natural spin-off from this effort. Moving the know-how and technology to Singapore - a market full of SMEs that desperately need to modernize themselves. 4. How long did your start-up take to finish development? 7 months of sleepless nights to get our SaaS platform up and running. 5. What are your preferred platforms/tools? Azure, Jenkins, GIT and anything that fits in with our agile development philosophy. We use tools that encourage teamwork and accountability. This helps us to scale globally and work with a myriad of full-time and part-time professionals from around the world. 6. Have you gotten any interesting feedback from users of the app/solution? Constantly! Users are always value-adding to the platform with feedback. Many requests centre around making the user experience more intuitive. We do our best to simplify the visual presentation of data, without undermining its integrity or shedding granularity. 7. How do you keep yourself motivated, especially during the low times? Taking a moment to remember why you’re here and where you’re going. A strong vision is like an anchor - it can weigh you down if you obsess but it also helps you ride out the storms. 8. If you could go back in time when you first started, what would you have done differently? Nothing - our team and business are the result of both stumbles and successes. Hindsight is 20/20 but it’s always better to learn and look forward. 9. What’s next for you? Sustainable growth and incremental improvements. Bearing in mind we serve businesses, continuity and growth are their key pillars. Adopting a digital business solution like ours can be challenging for our SME clientele but it is critical to their long-term survival. 10. What’s one advice you would give to budding entrepreneurs? Two things that have helped me: #1 Give your start-up everything you have, it will take nothing less to succeed. #2 Plan but more importantly do. [caption id=“attachment_22241” align=“alignnone” width=“4032”] BiTS at Work[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22242” align=“alignnone” width=“960”] Jonathan presenting at CodingGirls Event[/caption]

Free resources from Microsoft to help you build a cloud career

Fri, 30 Sep 2016 02:49:13 +0000

Resources for IT Pros to build their careers in cloud technology. Cloud technology is transforming the role of IT. Building new skills and learning about cloud technology is important for career growth. Microsoft is introducing two new free programs for IT Professionals who want to build and grow their career in the cloud-first world. Join now! Microsoft IT Pro Cloud Essentials A free annual subscription that includes free cloud services, education and support.

Microsoft Startup Days: Having a Cup of Coffee with Cafebond

Thu, 29 Sep 2016 15:20:36 +0000

The first edition of “Microsoft Startup Days” was held on 29th September at BASH (LaunchPad, 79 Ayer Rajah Crescent), featuring the founders of Cafebond, Keyis Ng and Eugene Chen. During the one-hour session, they shared their entrepreneurial journey to build the world’s leading e-commerce portal for coffee lovers everywhere and how they are leveraging on Microsoft BizSpark Program and Microsoft Azure Platform to propel and accelerate their growth. The session was well received by the community as it welcomed over 40 attendees comprising of a mixture of startup founders, students, developers and industry professionals. The audience was highly engaged with the wealth of experience and knowledge shared by Keyis and Eugene, starting from the incubation of their ideas and engagement of industry partners from Australia to launching their platform and tackling issues such as customer service and logistics. Some of the key lessons shared included:

ACE Microsoft Tech Talks - The Way to a Fast and Reliable Customer Service

Thu, 29 Sep 2016 02:59:06 +0000

23 September 2016

Last Friday, the second session of ACE Microsoft Tech Talks took place at ACE Ideation Centre, Block 79. In this session, I discussed about the latest trending technology in the IT industry, which is Chat Bots. I gave the audience an overview of Chat Bot technologies from Microsoft by using Bot Framework and LUIS. The Bot Framework allows for developers to build a single web service and connect it to the various communication channel such like Skype, Facebook Messenger, Telegram and more. The engine behind which understands natural language is LUIS which allows for developers to build a language model of their own allowing it to understand intents and entities of a user by analyzing the text message sent by the user. Towards the end of the talk, a few chatbots demo were shown and one of them is a Changi Airport Chatbot that i have built. This is closely related to the customer service industry as chatbots could replace mundane tasks of a customer service officer and employers could assign them a much more important or critical task. A link to my Changi Airport chatbot code could be found below. If you would like to read up more on Bot Framework and LUIS. Here are a few useful links**:** For Bot Framework- dev.botframework.com For LUIS- luis.ai For Sample code on the integration of Bot Framework with LUIS- github.com/Microsoft/BotBuilder/ For LUIS Documentation- https://www.luis.ai/Help For BotFramework Documentation-https://docs.botframework.com/en-us/csharp/builder/sdkreference/ For Changi Airport Code Repository- https://github.com/izzkhair/SampleChangiAirportBot Here are a few photos taken during the talk: [caption id=“attachment_22318” align=“alignnone” width=“3840”] Explaining the industrial use cases of Chatbots.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22322” align=“alignnone” width=“3840”] Giving a demo on the various Chatbots that I have built.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22320” align=“alignnone” width=“3840”] The audience that attended my talk[/caption]

iNTUition V3.0 Hackathon - Workshop on Bots, Cognitive Services and IoT

Tue, 27 Sep 2016 07:41:07 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_22356” align=“alignnone” width=“2000”] iNTUition Hackathon[/caption] iNTUition is NTU’s only student-run 24 hour hackathon, organized by IEEE NTU Student Branch in collaboration with NTU Open Source Society. Students of all levels in any educational institution in Singapore & South-East Asia can sign up for iNTUition. If you are passionate about learning new technologies, building awesome projects and meeting like-minded hackers, we want you here! Where does Microsoft come in? Technical Evangelists Shawn Tjai and James Lee will be conducting a 2-3 hour workshop on the 7th of October on the following Microsoft technology.

Witness the Power: PowerShell Conference Asia 2016 (Oct 20-22)

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 01:33:43 +0000

PowerShell Conference Asia 2016 Join us for the second PowerShell Conference Asia, held in Singapore, where PowerShell speakers from Asia and around the world come together to bring attendees in-depth PowerShell and DevOps content. Speakers Line-up Speakers include 4 members of the PowerShell team from Microsoft headquarters in Redmond and a strong line-up of MVPs, well-known international speakers, and community contributors. They’ll cover in-depth topics on the PowerShell language and how you can use PowerShell to automate the technologies you use every day. There will be strong focus on using PowerShell to enable DevOps practices whether On Premises or in the cloud. Event Highlights The main event runs on Friday and Saturday, but we also have a Workshop day on Thursday, where we will have some vendor-led workshops where you will have the opportunity to be introduced to and get hands on with tools and technologies in the DevOps and Automation space. If that’s not your thing, we have a 1 day PowerShell refresher crash course led by one of the best PowerShell trainers from the United States. This is geared up to make sure you get the most from being a conference attendee. At the end of Day 1 (Friday), we have drinks and nibbles at a local bar where you can connect with peers and the speakers in a more relaxed setting. All included in your ticket price. Remember, we still have another full day of content on Saturday though! Resources:

BandLab wins Microsoft Start-up Partner of the Year Award 2016

Fri, 23 Sep 2016 08:14:23 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_22300” align=“alignnone” width=“1200”] BandLab wins Microsoft Start-up Partner of the Year Award 2016[/caption] Microsoft Partner Award is an annual event which celebrate successes and innovations related to partner competencies, cloud technology, entrepreneurial spirit and sales excellence, highlighting the great work done by our Microsoft partners. This year’s Start Up Partner of the Year Award winner, BandLab, demonstrated leadership in the areas of innovation, market potential, media and analyst attention, investor value creation, and customer adoption. BandLab is a Singapore-based social music platform that enables creators to make music and share the creative process with musicians and fans. With a global community of creators and fans, BandLab combines music making and collaboration tools like the world’s first cross-platform DAW, with social features like video sharing, messaging and discovery. BandLab’s mission is to break down the technical, geographic and creative barriers between creators, collaborators and community. [caption id=“attachment_22304” align=“alignnone” width=“1920”] Bandlab’s Android MixEditor lets you produce your music on the go![/caption] They have been working very closely with Microsoft to integrate various Microsoft technology and services in their product. For example, using Microsoft Azure to build features like Shouts, which enables users to share photos and videos. [caption id=“attachment_22301” align=“alignnone” width=“1440”] BandLab Shouts let you to share your creative moment in a fun and engaging way[/caption] Meng Ru Kuok, CEO and Co-founder of BandLab, said: “We are delighted and honoured to have been selected as the Singapore Start-Up Partner of the Year by Microsoft. This acknowledgement from Microsoft is particularly meaningful, because Microsoft’s philosophy of helping companies around the world achieve more is matched by BandLab’s desire to help creators around the world collaborate and engage with their fans. Microsoft has been a great partner to BandLab, and Microsoft’s technology, services and support have played an important role in helping us to build the products and services that BandLab users rely on every day. Microsoft Azure, for example, has given us a great foundation on which to build features like Shouts, which enables users to share photos and videos. At BandLab we’re very proud of how much we have accomplished in the past year, and simply put, we couldn’t have got this far, this fast without Microsoft’s technology and support." BandLab also recently announced the acquisition of San Francisco-based MONO Creators Inc, to further serve the mobile musician with a range of hardware and physical products. Congratulations to BandLab for winning Microsoft Start-up Partner of the Year Award 2016!

Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals bring back 'Community Technology Update' with lots more 'Oomph!'

Fri, 23 Sep 2016 01:45:29 +0000

“It is a great privilege to be leading a group of Community Elites and bringing back Community Technology Update once again. “What’s Now and What’s Next” clearly spells out the idea behind CTU and we are truly amazed by the turn out and the energy of the attendees on a Saturday.”

Desmond Tan, Organizer and MVP for Community Technology Update 2016

-—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- September 17th, 2016 – Intense networking, powerful learning and a ton of fun. These were the adjectives used to describe Community Technology Update (CTU) 2016 which was revived this year since abruptly announcing an indefinite hiatus 2 years back. What’s Now and What’s Next! Community Technology Update (CTU) was the brainchild of current/former Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) Alvin Lau, Loke Kit Kai, Dennis Chung & Sukhdev Singh who wanted to share their experiences across the series of Microsoft Technologies that they believe all of them truly care about. Started off in 2007 and now into its 12th iteration this year, Community Technology Update provided the community platform to meet MVPs of difference expertise, exchange ideas with the subject matter experts, catch up with the Community Leaders, and most importantly network with IT folks around Singapore. It is one of the biggest and most awaited signature event in Singapore and it’s legacy is currently led by the next generation of MVPs Desmond Tan, Triston Wan & Milton Goh. More Oomph! Led and powered by the MVPs, Microsofties, Community Leaders/influencers and Students Partners participated in this one full day event as facilitators, speakers and demo-helpers and delivered a total of 12 technical sessions to the 123 attendees present comprising of developers, IT professionals, team leads, software development managers and decision makers. The M&O team was also roped in to help showcase Win10 Pro/Enterprise security and IoT value prop at this event. We also had the pleasure of having AHQ Audience Evangelism Lead Li Jung helm the keynote speaking slot, Corp Community Program Manager So Young Lee leading the Community Leaders Meetup session and Services Sook Huey Wong demoing Conversation as a Service for the closing. No Man is an Island. This collaboration was made possible with the strong support, funding and cross-team collaboration across Microsoft Singapore, Corp and AHQ.

HackfestSG by NUS Overseas Colleges

Tue, 13 Sep 2016 10:05:58 +0000

HackfestSG is an amazing 3 day hackathon organized by NUS Overseas Colleges and facilitated by Labgoo, with support from NUS Enterprise. There are approximately 150 participants with 8 different industry experts who are on-site to provide mentorship and guidance for the event. [caption id=“attachment_22255” align=“alignnone” width=“3840”] Launch of HackfestSG by NUS Enterprise[/caption] One of our BizSpark Start-up, BandLab Technologies, was also invited to support the event as an industry partner. BandLab uses Microsoft Azure to create a cloud-based platform for users to create, collaborate and share their music. [caption id=“attachment_22253” align=“alignnone” width=“3840”] Microsoft Singapore BizSpark Team with one of our Start-up, BandLab Technology Team[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22256” align=“alignnone” width=“3840”] BandLab founder, Meng, announcing the challenge statement[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22257” align=“alignnone” width=“5312”] Awesome giveaway from BandLab[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22258” align=“alignnone” width=“5312”] Meng showing BandLab’s cloud-based platform for users to create, collaborate and share their music[/caption] Izzat, a Technical Evangelist from Microsoft Singapore, also shared with the participants on how to leverage Microsoft Cognitive Services and Bot Framework for their hackathon projects. The audiences were amazed by how simple and easy it is to utilize these tools for their proposed solutions. [caption id=“attachment_22259” align=“alignnone” width=“5312”] Izzat from Microsoft Singapore introducing various Microsoft Technology[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22260” align=“alignnone” width=“5312”] Izzat wows the audiences with Microsoft Bot Framework[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22262” align=“alignnone” width=“3840”] Great mentors from Microsoft Singapore[/caption] Congratulations to NUS Overseas College, Labgoo and NUS Enterprise for organizing an amazing hackathon filled with great ideas, people, and technologies! More importantly, we were able to excite the community with the latest developments in Cognitive Services and Bot Framework. If you want to find out more about Microsoft Cognitive Services and Bot Framework, you can refer to the following resources: Microsoft Cognitive Services - https://www.microsoft.com/cognitive-services Microsoft Bot Framework - https://dev.botframework.com/

Programmer’s Day Blog Post

Tue, 06 Sep 2016 10:56:25 +0000

5 reasons why everyone should learn to code

12 September is not just the 256th day of the year – it is also International Programmer’s Day, a time for us to celebrate the architects behind our increasingly digital world. In case you’re wondering- the number 256 symbolizes the number of distinct values that can be represented with an eight-bit byte. Today, we take for granted how simple it is to stay in touch with our loved ones, shop online, or even read this article on our mobile devices. We rarely pause to consider that all these conveniences and benefits of technology are actually only possible through the work of coders and programmers. Coding is something that everyone should try – here’s why: 1. Digital capabilities and economic growth go together: According to a recent study by Accenture, more than a fifth (22%) of global GDP today can be attributed to some form of digital skills, capital, goods or services. Digital tech could power $2 trillion of the global economic output by 2020 clearly demonstrating its role in igniting overall economic growth. For this reason, there are plans to formally introduce computing and computer science education into national curricula in several Asian countries like Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Microsoft Business Talks - 10 Sure-Win Tips to Unlock Microsoft’s Customer Base

Mon, 05 Sep 2016 08:54:48 +0000

2nd September 2016

The first Microsoft Business Talks session was held at NUS Enterprise, Block 79. Our first speaker to kick-off the Microsoft Biz Talks series was Yizhe Shen, Partner Business Evangelist from the Developer Experience Team, Microsoft Singapore. He guided the audience through a step-by-step process on unlocking Microsoft’s Customer Based. One of the tips that caught my eye was “Bundle a Microsoft’s product or solution”, Yizhe explained that Microsoft goal is to allow enterprise, startups and developers to take advantage of its platform and services.One of the key things that he mentioned was, “Do you realized that if you buy a Microsoft Product, you didn’t buy the product directly from Microsoft. You will usually buy it from partners, distributor or reseller “. All of this is done so that Microsoft can help you. So now, Imagine the thousands of customers and clients that you could connect with, if you leverage on the Microsoft Platform and Services. It is amazing how something this simple could help companies to form up their long-term business plan. Here are some of the tips that were mentioned: 1) Be Customer Obsessed. 2) Join Microsoft Customer & Partner event. 3) Find a Champion from Within. 4) Build bit-size content for sellers. 5) Stay Focus and Go for Lighthouse wins. [caption id=“attachment_22201” align=“alignnone” width=“988”] Yizhe Starting out his session.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22203” align=“alignnone” width=“987”] Yizhe during his session. Explaining one the tips “Bundle a Microsoft Product of Solution”.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22204” align=“alignnone” width=“987”] Microsoft Developer Experience Team, Welcoming the audience before the start of the session.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22202” align=“alignnone” width=“987”] The audience that attended the session.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22200” align=“alignnone” width=“987”] Steven giving out a quick introductoon of the speaker, Yizhe Shen.[/caption] If you missed the first session of Microsoft Business Talks, don’t worry there will be more coming up soon. On the 9th September 2016 there will be “Brunch with Microsoft” Session at NUS Enterprise, this is an Initiative by the Microsoft BizSpark team to allow Business and Technical experts to interact with Startups and hopefully to collaborate with them in the future. Please do come down, if you are available. For more upcoming event by the Microsoft BizSpark team, Please Stay tune to Spiffy.sg.

How to format your Microsoft Surface using an Windows ISO file

Mon, 05 Sep 2016 08:38:58 +0000

Many people are familiar with our official Windows USB/DVD Download Tool (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool). A super convenient tool to flash ISO file into USB thumb drive. However, many of you will realize that, your Microsoft Surface doesn’t boot from the USB when you flash the ISO using the tool. That is because Microsoft Surface will only boot into a thumb drive with FAT32 file system! So here. I will give you a step by step guide to create a Windows 10 bootable thumb drive for your Microsoft Surface. What you need • An 8GB or 16GB or 32GB thumb drive • A PC with internet access and a USB port What to do 1. Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 and click on “Download tool now” 2. Go to your download folder and double click on “MediaCreationTool.exe” 3. Click on “Accept” to agree the terms and condition (<- Please read) 4. Select “Create installation media for another PC” then “Next” 5. You can either “use recommended options for this PC” or uncheck the check box and select from the drop down list for the ISO file you need. 6. Select “ISO file” and click “Next” 7. Choose a location to save the file and click “Save” 8. The download will begin. Just wait for the download to complete. 9. Click on “Finish” after the download has completed. 10. Plug in your thumb drive and go to “This PC” 11. Right click on the drive icon of your thumb drive and select “Format…” 12. Click on “File system” and select “FAT32” 13. Click on “Start” to begin the format drive process. NOTE THAT THIS STEP WILL WIPE THE ENTIRE THUMB DRIVE. 14. Browse to the ISO file you have saved. Right click to get the drop down list. Select “Open with” then “Windows Explorer”. 15. A Windows Explorer will open. Select all the files and copy it. 16. Go to the root folder of the thumb drive and paste the files into it. 17. That’s it! Your Surface bootable thumb drive is ready! You may want to refer to https://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-ae/support/storage-files-and-folders/boot-surface-from-usb-recovery-device?os=windows-10 to see how to boot Surface from a USB device. Cheers Lungic \(^o^)/

Developer Showcase: MenuSnap (Abel Lim & Ong Zhi Yong)

Fri, 02 Sep 2016 04:11:09 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_22162” align=“alignnone” width=“1024”] MenuSnap Team - Ong Zhi Yong (left) & Abel Lim (right)[/caption] Hello! Can you guys tell us more about yourself? We are friends and both studying Computer Science in NUS School of Computing. We developed this Android application for the NUS Orbital Summer Project. One common thing about us is that we both wanted to develop a useful application with real world use and that is why we formed a team together. Which 3 words would describe the team best? Synergistic, curious, efficient How did you come up with the idea? And what problem is your application trying to solve? It started as we were brainstorming for an idea for our summer project. At that time, we had many different ideas and we thought of using computer vision APIs for interesting applications. One idea we thought of was using OCR to understand food menus. We realised that whenever we travel overseas or when we try to order food from a foreign restaurant in Singapore, it was always difficult to figure out what exactly we were ordering, especially when there is no picture of it on the menu. We figured that using OCR would be an interesting idea because it is fast and accurate for food menus that are usually well-printed. It would make it much more convenient for looking up our food menu items and encourage people to find out more about what they are ordering. On top of that, we decided to add in translation and image search features which gave us the initial concept of MenuSnap. MenuSnap would provide users with relevant images, information and translations of the particular menu item allowing them to make a more informed decision when ordering their food. How long did your application take to finish development? (Before the application was released) Roughly the entire duration of our summer break! Around 3 months or so. What are your preferred platforms/tools? Android Studio, Firebase and Github are some of the tools we used for developing this project. Our preferred platforms as of now are mobile platforms like Android and iOS. Have you gotten any interesting feedback from users of the application? Yes, we have gotten a few. One of our user who’s a UX designer and researcher from Alibaba Iran sent us a very detailed feedback on our current UX design and it was really helpful, as he gave us professional guidelines to follow. Another user also gave feedback that he used the application for a very different use case from how we imagined initially. Instead of scanning food menus to find out more about them, he was a food menu collector and wanted to scan all the menus into a digital format. How do you keep yourself motivated, especially during the low times? We had a clear goal of what we wanted to produce at the end of the summer. By knowing that, we became very motivated to finish the project as soon as possible with all the features we had planned. What’s next for you guys? Other than crushing a few more bugs on MenuSnap, we are each looking to take on new projects and to develop more interesting applications. MenuSnap is just a starting point for our software development journey. What’s one advice you would give to other upcoming application developers? For Android developers, you would need a wide range of Android devices to test your app because what works on one phone might not work on another. The compatibility issue is very real for android developers. Therefore, expand your social circle to include more Android users. For app developers in general, never be afraid to try new technologies/APIs, it can develop into interesting applications with many possibilities. You may download their application “MenuSnap - Food Search” on Google Play.

Come join the Income Future Starter, powered by TAG.PASS Programme

Wed, 31 Aug 2016 01:34:53 +0000

IIPL (Singapore’s premier technology venture capital firm) and NTUC Income (a leading Singapore composite insurer) have partnered to launch the “Income Future Starter powered by TAG.PASS” accelerator programme (http://incomefuturestarter.com)! The programme helps startups and companies with solutions in digital health, analytics and insurance to fast track the commercialisation of their products and co-innovate with NTUC Income. Selected startups will receive a S$28,000 equity-free grant; gain mentorship and market insights & access from Income, IIPL, and industry veterans; receive coaching on tech & business development; and get plug into the startup eco-system with complimentary working space at BASH Singapore. Sign up now at http://incomefuturestarter.com to join the programme and bring your company to the next level! IIPL and NTUC Income will also be having a roadshow on 5 September at BASH Singapore. Come down to learn more about the accelerator and meet with the decision makers for selection into the programme. Register for the event today at - https://income-futurestarter-tagpass-sg.eventbrite.com [caption id=“attachment_22153” align=“alignnone” width=“1830”] Income Future Starter, powered by TAG.PASS Programme - http://www.income.com.sg/future-starter/register.html[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_22154” align=“alignnone” width=“1806”] Recruitment Roadshow Schedule - http://income.com.sg/future-starter/roadshows.html[/caption]

ACE Microsoft Tech Talks - Create your own Predictive Model in 5 minutes with Azure Machine Learning

Mon, 29 Aug 2016 08:40:28 +0000

25th August 2016

Have you ever wondered, how long it would take to build a predictive model ? Traditionally, it would take hours or even days to build, train and evaluate a Predictive Model. Microsoft’s Technical Evangelist, Mohamed Izzat Khair, demonstrated that the traditional process of building a Machine Learning algorithm is soon to be deprecated. By using Azure Machine Learning, anyone could build their own Machine Learning model within minutes. During the session, he explained the basic concept of Predictive Modelling and guided the audience through the process of the Modern Machine Learning Lifecycle. The event mainly consist of audience who are just starting on their journey to develop a better understanding of Machine Learning, a good place to start for them is of course Azure Machine Learning. Here are a few resources kickstart your journey in Predictive Modelling, 1)Getting Started with Azure Machine Learning 2)Learn from existing Azure Machine Learning Experiment 3)Azure Machine Learning Hands-On-Lab 4)Full Machine Learning Course 5)Machine Learning Introduction Course Izzat starting off his presentation Explaining the use case for Azure Machine Learning If you have any questions with regards to Azure Machine Learning or Predictive Modeling, please feel free to contact Izzat at: a-momoha@microsoft.com Stay tune to our next ACE Microsoft Tech Talks in September where we will be learning to create Fast & Reliable Customer Service with Microsoft Bot Framework: https://www.weshipcode.com/events/ace-microsoft-tech-talks-way-fast-reliable-customer-service-microsoft-bot-framework/

Xamarin Dev Day Singapore 2016

Fri, 26 Aug 2016 03:17:16 +0000

Xamarin Dev Days are coming to Singapore! (Saturday, November 5, 2016) Xamarin Dev Days provide attendees with a hands-on learning experience. Spend the morning exploring mobile development with sessions from Xamarin, our technology partners, and members of your local developer community, then roll up your sleeves for an afternoon dedicated to diving into code. Each Xamarin Dev Days is unique, but you’ll always walk away with a better understanding of how you can build, test, and monitor native iOS, Android, and Windows apps with Xamarin. We have an amazing lineup of international Xamarin VIP’s joining the event. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————- Speakers:

Startup Feature: Surfing Suitcase Co-Founder, Xander Khoo

Fri, 26 Aug 2016 01:49:57 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_22096” align=“alignnone” width=“2988”] Surfing Suitcase Team - Lik Khian, Dansu, and Xander (from left to right)[/caption] Hello! What’s your current role in your start-up, and how did your past experiences take you here? I am the co-founder of my start-up. I had all along been very keen in the field of business and started doing my little business venture in 2012 as well. However, the exposure to start-up, together with my one-year overseas start-up internship experience in Shanghai with NUS Overseas College, changed how I look at things, and I have never looked back since. I am very fortunate to have been able to be guided by the best throughout this journey, from my Shanghai start-up boss Brian Tan, who is a serial entrepreneur, highly creative and motivated individual, to people like Charles from Charles & Keith and Jane Sun from Ctrip who had selflessly shared with a group of people and myself on the various experiences and tips they had for us. Slowly but surely, from the 3 years plus I have immersed myself in the start-up ecosystem now, to the books I had poured through and the great people I had the opportunity to come across, standing on the shoulders of giants affirmed by belief that there is more to be done and we can indeed make a change in the society through our start-ups and through innovating day in day out. Which 3 words would describe you best? Curious, passionate, and hungry. How did you come up with the idea? And what problem is your start-up trying to solve? It started when my co-founders, Lik Khian, Dansu and myself were constantly looking for work spaces to work out of. Not just any work spaces, but spaces that are able to cater to our needs at that point in time and allow us to do proper work. Once we realized there actually lack a solution that caters to what we want, and started tinkering with what we might possibly with, we begun talking to more people and did some validation, only soon to realized that we are not the only ones facing this problem. As we look deeper we started to develop this firm belief that remote working and co-working is going to be a huge trend in the very near future, and we want to be able to help people transit seamlessly into it, as well as experiencing the full benefits what remote working can do for them. Hence, we decide to start small by first empowering road warriors to access work spaces suited to their needs, anytime they want, anywhere and everywhere they need. The very first problem we all faced. How long did your start-up take to finish development? (Before the product could meet the market) It took us somewhere between 6 to 7 months to have the MVP out. At the start we were bouncing around the idea and thinking all about the grand plan we have and what we can do for the society, only soon to realise we need to first start solving one of their immediate problem, then we are able to allow our consumers to have a taste and first insight into remote working, if they had not tried it out yet. What are your preferred platforms/tools? We operate on a mobile web currently, but looking to move into a mobile app to further improve the ease of access. Have you gotten any interesting feedback from users of the app/solution? It was heartening to receive many encouraging feedbacks from our users ever since we did the beta testing. Users currently had feedback to us that this is indeed very applicable and useful to them, however of course with some areas that we can possibly improve in, and that is what we are working hard to do! Also, when we participated in Tech In Asia Conference 2016, quite a few companies and investors alike came to inquire if we had launched and where were we then. Unfortunately, we were not ready then. There was an instance when we were even asked if we are in Nepal! How do you keep yourself motivated, especially during the low times? Constant reminders of why we started out in the first place and the amount of sacrifices that we had put in. Beyond passion, it has also become a responsibility for us, an answer to ourselves, an answer to the customers that were there for us from the start, and an answer to our dreams. Definitely also, the thought that we started out to really want to shake the world. To be able to bring a little good with what we do to the society. Last but not least, the environment also plays an important part in keeping me going. Personally, getting consistently involved with meeting people of various walks, as well as different related events. The little chats, sharing and sessions that happen will remind myself on what made me embark on this journey at the start, as I recount my journey and explain my start-up to them. If you could go back in time when you first started, what would you have done differently? I would have done things faster and more fearlessly. A lot of times it is the self-doubt that are the shackles tying ourselves to our current position. What’s next for you? Line up an official launch once the full fledge app is ready, and start breaking into the SEA market to bring more good to more people in the region! What’s one advice you would give to budding entrepreneurs? As an early stage start-up, perhaps I am not as fully qualified to give advices. Yet, if I am to share with the others on what I got out of my experiences, I would say that there will be points in time you will hear a lot of people saying a lot of different things. Some will love you, some will hate you, some will tell you you are onto something big, and some will tell you that it is never going to work. However, what matters is that you persevere on no matter what until you have seen the results for yourself, and always, Stay true to your vision. From the words of Winston Churchill, If you are going through hell, keep going.

IRAS Hackathon 2016

Tue, 23 Aug 2016 07:21:04 +0000

If you’re passionate about fintech, artificial intelligence, or designing new digital experiences, the IRAS Hackathon 2016 (2 - 4 September) is perfect for you! Co-create solutions with IRAS and the tax industry to deliver intuitive, customized digital services and experiences to SMEs and individuals taxpayers. Join the pre-hackathon workshop (30th August) and the Tech Workshop by Microsoft (31st August) to get started. Sign up now! http://bit.ly/iras-ms Learn more: http://bit.ly/iras-hackathon-2016

Microsoft Innovation Huddle at LaunchPad - A Lap around Bletchley, Microsoft's Blockchain Platform

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 10:30:58 +0000

On 19th August, we held the first edition of our “Microsoft Innovation Huddle” BASH, where Marley Gray presented “A Lap around Bletchley, Microsoft’s Blockchain Platform” in front of an audience of over 30 industry professionals, start-ups, and developers. The participants loved the session and they are eager to find out more about our Blockchain technology on Azure Platform. They are also looking forward to our upcoming events in LaunchPad, such as:

SIA AppChallenge

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 09:06:42 +0000

#SIAAppChallenge is back again this year! Create a travel app that will make Singapore Airlines a great way to fly and stand to win air tickets and other attractive prizes! Registration is now open for the Student and Open categories. Event happens on 1 to 8 October. Find out more: http://appchallenge.singaporeair.com/

Singapore to Explore Next-Generation Digital Government Services

Tue, 12 Jul 2016 02:59:24 +0000

Singapore to Explore Next-Generation Digital Government Services with Conversations as a Platform Proof-of-Concept

SINGAPORE, 12 July 2016 – Singapore is partnering with Microsoft on its “Conversations as a Platform” to explore opportunities in co-creating next-generation digital government services for a Smart Nation. At this year’s World Cities Summit “Innovative Solutions for a Smart City” conference track, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister-In-Charge of the Smart Nation Initiative, announced that the Government will explore next-generation government services based on a shift towards conversational computing - specifically, the use of intelligent software programs known as chatbots for selected public services where appropriate. These chatbots will function as digital representatives, simulating human behaviour in order to make interactions simpler, more efficient, and more consistent. In the mobile-first and cloud-first world that we all live in, citizens and constituents want public and business services that can interact with their digital lives – intelligent services that respond, act and communicate in fundamentally new ways that can augment human abilities and experiences and do so in a trustworthy manner. The Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) will explore with Microsoft on a new computing proof-of-concept (POC) that builds conversational intelligence into public services, with the aim of making them more anticipatory, accessible, engaging and inclusive for citizens and constituents. “I believe there are more intuitive ways for government services to be delivered to our citizens. Everybody expects responsive and personalised interactions in real time. The recent quantum improvement of natural language processing means that ‘conversations’ will be the new medium. This joint research project with Microsoft to demonstrate the utility of conversational computing for public services will be all the more pertinent,” said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. Conversations as a Platform represents a fundamental shift where the power of human language, artificial intelligence and machine learning are applied pervasively through computing interface and interaction. Essentially, computing systems, their apps and services, are infused with intelligence and context that shows up in the form of a bot to enable productive human to machine interaction within a single conversation – whether spoken or text – rather than needing individuals to navigate through a sea of icons to find and use multiple applications or look through pages and pages of Websites to accomplish tasks. “As everything around us becomes more digitised, Conversations as a Platform is a new shift that applies the understanding of human language to computers and computing, which can transform every industry,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “We’re excited to partner with organisations like the Government of Singapore to help transform its engagements with citizens and businesses to seize the opportunities ahead.” “As part of a Digital Government, IDA continues to explore partnership opportunities with the industry to co-create digital solutions for citizens and businesses. We have done so with virtual assistant ‘Ask Jamie,’ which has been successfully rolled out to some government agencies including IDA. We are happy to work with more partners, including Microsoft, to test out POCs which may enhance the way citizens and businesses interact online with the Government,” said Jacqueline Poh, Managing Director of IDA. The POC, which will be implemented in three phases, will involve intelligent chatbots, where users are able to converse with and call upon any applications within a single website to complete tasks. It will also explore potential future scenarios, including services that cater to a multi-lingual and multi-generational population.

User Experience at Redmart, Foodpanda and Tradegecko

Tue, 28 Jun 2016 07:35:07 +0000

What happens when you put User Experience (UX) Designers from Redmart, Foodpanda and Tradegecko together on a pleasant Thursday evening? Well, it soon turns into a very interesting discussion about users, their needs, observing their day to day behaviour and crafting a user experience they will crave again and again ! This was exactly what happened at a UX Panel organised by Growth Hacking Asia and moderated by Braintree. It was held on 31st March, 2016 at “The Co.” on 75 High street. The panel had Khairul Nizam from redmart, Erich Frankenberg from foodpanda and Naning Utoyo from tradegecko. Many things were discussed. But what i took away at the end were 3 guiding principles. Something like a lighthouse.

Startup Feature: Cafebond.com Co-Founder, Keyis Ng

Mon, 27 Jun 2016 10:00:07 +0000

For this Start-Up Feature, we will be interviewing Keyis, Co-Founder of Cafebond.com. Hi Keyis, what’s your current role in Cafebond, and how did your past experiences take you here? I’m the CEO and Co-Founder of Cafebond.com, a specialty coffee bean e-commerce marketplace for coffee lovers to shop beans from top cafes around the world. I have been a coffee addict since I was 20 when I started working in the Marketing industry, and a trip to Melbourne, Australia, with my CTO and Co-Founder Eugene Chen 2 years ago let us tasted one of the best coffee we ever tasted, and everything else is history. Which 3 words would describe you best? Ambitious, hard-working and creative. How did you come up with the idea? And what problem is Cafebond trying to solve? It was a leisure trip to Melbourne 2 years ago with my co-founder when we tasted one of the best cup of coffee in our life and we want the world to share the same experience we had. As a coffee lover myself, buying fresh coffee beans offline is a troublesome process due to my busy schedule and I do not want to settle for anything less. Also, usually there isn’t a good variety of coffee beans for me to choose locally. That’s the 2 main problems Cafebond.com is adding value to for our customers. Cafebond.com currently has 15 top Australian cafes on our platform, including names like Seven Seeds, Market Lane, St Ali from Melbourne and Ona Coffee from Canberra, which is owned by Sasa Sestic, the World Barista Champion of 2015. Our coffee are roast to order and ships weekly from Australia at a flat delivery of S$10 regardless the order size. The affordable shipping is only made possible with our Shipping Consolidation Algorithm, which we consolidate customer’s order to bring down the shipping costs greatly. How long did Cafebond take to finish development? (before the product could meet the market) Our team took a year to finish the product development. During the time, we also spoke to lots of potential customers with both coffee lovers and also café merchants to constantly improve our platform. What are your preferred platforms/tools? Microsoft Azure of course! Have you gotten any interesting feedback from users of the app? We have gotten quite a few feed backs from coffee lovers to expand to other Southeast Asian countries. I’m excited to share exclusively with Spiffy.sg readers that Cafebond.com’s expansion to Malaysia is in the works and will happen very soon! How do you keep yourself motivated, especially during the low times? Having support from my co-founder, friends and family. If you could go back in time when you first started, what would you have done differently? Nothing. Even though we took quite a bit of time to be launch-ready but the process has been really rewarding for us to understand our business and our customers better. What’s next for you? Constantly improving the key needle movers in our business and of course focusing on our expansion plan to the Chinese market. What’s one advice you would give to budding entrepreneurs? Quoting Steve Jobs - “Stay Hungry, stay foolish”. How has it been like working with Consumers as an audience? Very exciting, especially talking directly to our customers where we gain lots of insights to constantly make our platform better.

UXSG Conference 2016

Thu, 23 Jun 2016 03:26:07 +0000

UXSG Conference 2016

7 - 9 Sep, 2016

Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre

Dear Spiffy community,The bi-annual UXSG Conference 2016 returns this year from 7-9 September! Organised by the volunteers behind the monthly UXSG meetups, this year’s conference looks at the theme of Transformation across Society, Communities, Products & Services and the Self. Whether you’re refining your business idea or building a startup, being an entrepreneur takes a lot of determination and adaptability to learn, make mistakes and take risks. One of the ways you can minimise risk is to invest in user experience (UX) and apply a human-centered design approach. So join us at UXSG Conference 2016 as we explore the fundamental impact that design has on our everyday lives. Programme highlights include:

Startup Feature: GetKobe Founder, Evangeline Leong

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 04:21:52 +0000

For this Start-Up Feature, we will be interviewing Evangeline, Founder of GetKobe. Hello! What’s your current role in your startup, and how did your past experiences take you here? With almost 10 years of experience in embracing digital marketing, I was the Business Director in PurpleClick, driving PurpleClick’s online advertising business from a 3-man startup to a hyper-growth today, a 60-man regional company across Southeast Asia. I have experience in building high performance teams in Sales, Account Management and Operations, spearheading successful business development projects such as UOB-PurpleClick collaboration, Parkway-Google Digital Session, ProClick™ Automation System, Salesforce ERP implementation, Modus Operandi across regional teams and achieved accelerated business performance and strong employee morale simultaneously. I have the honor of working with great organizations such as Redbull, Volvo, Harley Davidson, and businesses from all sectors, and all sizes across all kinds of online advertising products including PPC advertising, SEM, SEO, Display, Remarketing on platforms such as Google, Yahoo, Baidu, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn. With my multi faced digital marketing experience in precision and performance, I’ve witnessed the huge gap in social content marketing. Social content, or otherwise Social “Word of Mouth” is a highly effective marketing tool that has helped propel businesses success since the beginning of time. Today, with the power of data, tracking and digital - I have come up with my own proprietary algorithm that can deliver performance driven influencer marketing. Kobe is a self-serve social media influencer platform agnostic to social media publishers, which matches influencers’ social posts to respective businesses. More than just a commission earning platform, Kobe has a patented algorithm that allows businesses to pay for real customer impact (not influencers’ popularity) - by deep social data analytics and smart aggregation. Providing full transparency and 100% control to businesses in a simple to use and intuitive platform, Kobe revolutionizes social influence for all businesses, especially the SMEs. Our ecosystem simultaneously allows influencers to keep their freedom and originality on social media as we fiercely defend their interests. Kobe aims to revive the social influence scene with its performance driven foundation, unleashing the full potential of social content. With a deep understanding of the digital, branding, advertising, content and social landscape - coupled with the hustler charisma and extensive experience of building a high performance team using scalable infrastructure, processes and systems - I am confident that my role in Kobe Global Technologies as the CEO will take this startup into rising unicorn in the future years. Which 3 words would describe you best? Magnet - I’m a natural human magnet and the saying goes to describe, “I can charm a bird down from the tree” in an old-school way. I can grasp easily what people think, that makes me a natural sales person without appearing too salesy. From leading a team, to pursuing sales, working with colleagues or trying to hire someone - people are often drawn to my inspiring and magnetic charisma. I’ve got no problems attracting, retaining talent. Grit - I’ve been in PurpleClick when we grew the team from 3 to 20, and within a month dropped to 7 people in a mass exodus due to market conditions and careless expansion. The recovery period took 2 years, with customers complaining and leaving, team morale at the lowest and numbers looking the worse. It takes more than usual ‘passion’ to get through the stage where everyone lost faith. I’ve got a proven track record of grit and ability to undergo high degrees of stress while still retaining unwavering faith in self and in the vision. Hitler - I mean being a Hitler to myself, what were you thinking about? J I have extremely high expectations and slap myself really hard - giving extreme expectations. An example will be - an average deal size someone closed ranged around $5,000 but when I brought in $100k deals - I thought, “How can I do more?” Well, that’s how hard I push myself, and somehow it comes naturally! How did you come up with the idea? And what problem is your startup trying to solve? I identified a huge problem in the social content industry. It was a wonderful industry that billions of SMEs depended on as a means to survival however still relying in outdated processes to deliver fulfillment. The gap resulted in SMEs losing means to this powerful tool and I felt compelled to step out and plug this gap. How long did your startup take to finish development? (Before the product could meet the market) 1 month What are your preferred platforms/tools? Microsoft Cognitive Services Have you gotten any interesting feedback from users of the app/solution? I’ve got a really high hit rate - people always believed in the power of having someone else sell you, rather than constantly selling yourself. Which means - having someone like a social influencer endorsing you rather than having advertisements all the time. Only thing is, advertising can be controlled and tracked. The more you spend, the better results you can get. Influencer marketing however is a great platform, but not so measurable. When I (with a reputation for data-driven performance marketing who never liked fluffy branding) said I was going to make influencer marketing performance-driven, everyone sat up and gave me the strong vote of faith without asking anything else. That drove me further to make this platform an astounding success. Another funny one - a lot of people asked if I was selling beef! Well, company name’s taken from the ancient Chinese way of saying “word of mouth” so I thought it was pretty tongue-in-cheek but it ended up with a funny misunderstanding. Well, it gradually became a nice conversation opener in the end whenever I meet someone new. How do you keep yourself motivated, especially during the low times? I have a secret about my socks. My socks always come in cute cartoons like the minions, mickey-mouse or something close to that. I take off my shoes to let my feet talk to each other when I’m low! Like if I always step on that poor minion but they still feel alright - who am I to be upset? See low is always relative - same as when things are at its peak. There’s never a low too low, and never a high too high. If you could go back in time when you first started, what would you have done differently? I would have slept for 2 years without waking up before I decide to do this - that is, if sleep can be ‘stored’! Haha! What’s next for you? Going into Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Hong Kong. I’ve cut some deals for social content and have secured good interest. What’s one advice you would give to budding entrepreneurs? Please do not start your own startup. If you’re looking for corporate freedom by starting your own startup, do not walk down this path. If you’re starting a startup just because of the glorious fables of million-dollar exits, do not start your own startup. If you are looking for fame and bragging rights, my advice is for you to wake up, head back to that cubicle, and get to work. Start it only if you’re ready for the hours of hard work, grueling pain, insults and setbacks. Knowing that regardless of it all, that you are still going to do it. You need to possess contagious courage and unwavering insanity to walk a route that could potentially land nowhere, or make the world a better place. Find out more about GetKobe!

NUS and Microsoft Collaborate on Data Science Education and Research

Sun, 05 Jun 2016 09:46:44 +0000

NUS and Microsoft Collaborate on Data Science Education and Research

New Memorandum of Understanding aims to accelerate innovation and skills for a Smart N__ation

SINGAPORE, 27 May 2016 – The National University of Singapore (NUS) and Microsoft inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on data science education and research. As part of this collaboration, Microsoft also becomes the first industry partner of the newly-launched NUS Institute of Data Science, which will be the focal point for all data science research and translation, education and related activities at NUS. As Singapore continues on the journey to realise its Smart Nation vision, the demand for skilled individuals who understand how technology can be deployed effectively and efficiently to achieve productive and inclusive growth as a nation will only increase. Moreover, with vast amounts of data being collected through the nationwide network of sensors, the ability to make sense of and analyse huge amounts of complex data will enable Singapore to fully harness the power of technology to create solutions that can improve the lives of citizens, and create greater opportunities for businesses. [caption id=“attachment_21928” align=“aligncenter” width=“2272”] Professor Ho Teck Hua, Deputy President (Research & Technology) of NUS and Jessica Tan, Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore, sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on data science and research, witnessed by (from left) Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President of NUS, Wong Ngit Liong, Chairman of NUS Board of Trustees, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft and Cesar Cernuda, President of Microsoft Asia Pacific.[/caption] The MoU, which established a private-public collaboration to enable research and tools development for data science, was signed by Professor Ho Teck Hua, Deputy President (Research & Technology) of NUS, and Jessica Tan, Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore. The signing ceremony was also witnessed by Wong Ngit Liong, Chairman of NUS Board of Trustees, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President of NUS, Satya Nadella, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, and Cesar Cernuda, President of Microsoft Asia Pacific, along with faculty members, students and guests. The collaboration provides a framework for both parties to work collectively on data science research, and translate the research into tools and methodologies that can be used by the industry and academia in Singapore and the Asia Pacific. The framework will also pave the way for both parties to collaborate on capability and talent development in the fields of analytics and research, with the aim of fostering a pool of skilled individuals equipped with a strong understanding of data analytics and data science, to support Singapore’s Smart Nation vision. Specifically, Microsoft will provide its Cortana Intelligence Suite Education Programme to help NUS faculties and schools create an optimal environment for data science labs and projects, as well as its Advanced Analytics Process and Technology (ADAPT) to enable the building and deploying of predictive models at NUS. The Cortana Intelligence Suite Education Programme will provide the following benefits to support the data science talent requirements in Singapore:

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella at Microsoft Developer Day

Sun, 05 Jun 2016 09:40:10 +0000

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Affirms Commitment to Singapore Developers at Microsoft Developer Day Event

Attended by over 1,700 students and developers, Microsoft underscored the role of developers in enabling the digital transformation, and in fostering a people-centric Smart Nation

SINGAPORE, 27 May 2016 — Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reaffirmed the company’s commitment to empower the developer community in Singapore, to support the Smart Nation vision. He was speaking at the Microsoft Developer Day event, held at the National University of Singapore (NUS) where he highlighted the need for local developers to harness technology to the fullest, in order to be able to create opportunities, improve the lives of citizens, and build stronger communities for a people-centric Smart Nation. Over 1,700 students and developers attended the event, while an additional 3,000 followed the proceedings via live stream. [caption id=“attachment_21921” align=“aligncenter” width=“2272”] Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella delivering his keynote address at Microsoft Developer Day 2016 in Singapore.[/caption] During his keynote, Nadella underscored the role of the cloud and integrated technologies in helping businesses evolve and grow for the future, especially in today’s mobile-first, cloud-first world. He also highlighted that developers are expected to play a key role in enabling organisations to embrace digital transformation, and Microsoft is providing the resources and support to empower them to do so. “At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “If we’re going to achieve this mission, we must empower every developer in Singapore with the technology and platforms to express their creativity and change the world.” [caption id=“attachment_21923” align=“aligncenter” width=“2272”] Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella chats with students and developers over breakfast on their innovations and how they can leverage Microsoft platforms to power new innovations.[/caption] He shared the example of how young startups such as Overdrive is leveraging the intelligent cloud to provide a true Internet-of-Things (IoT) platform targeting smart devices and sensors on the move. Through the platform, this young startup uses IoT sensors and Azure IoT Suite to provide pre-emptive logistics management and optimisation to fleet owners. In addition to the over 1,000 vehicles they currently support, they have expanded their technology to other areas such as using IoT to provide concerned parents the location of their children to ensure that they arrive home safely. “Microsoft has been working closely with the local developer community over the years. Through our various programmes, we have been empowering them with the tools and support to innovate, to help themselves and others achieve more. With a growing set of intelligent tools and resources that we are making available for developers to leverage, we hope that this will pave the way for them to unlock new opportunities, and to make a greater impact for a smarter and more inclusive Singapore,” said Jessica Tan, Managing Director, Microsoft Singapore. [caption id=“attachment_21922” align=“aligncenter” width=“2272”] Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaking to developers about the importance of the ability to harness the power of data.[/caption] In his keynote, Nadella also highlighted how Astoria Solutions, which provides software solutions to companies in the marine and oil & gas industries, and noted how Astoria has grown from being a Microsoft BizSpark startup to Microsoft’s ISV Partner of the Year in a few short years. Astoria Solutions has since helped numerous companies increase revenue, boost efficiency and improve workplace safety with their solutions, and is now in the midst of expanding their business operations to Houston, USA, and the Middle East this year with Microsoft’s support. In closing, Nadella noted how Microsoft is also committed to nurturing the next generation of innovators to support Singapore’s Smart Nation vision, through a new collaboration with NUS on data science and research. This collaboration will enable the parties to work collectively on data science research with the aim of translating it into tools and methodologies that can be used by the industry and academia; and allow them to cooperate on capability and talent development in analytics and research, with the aim of fostering a pool of skilled individuals equipped with a strong understanding of data analytics and data science. [caption id=“attachment_21924” align=“aligncenter” width=“2272”] Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella meeting Ruth, an innovative social robot designed by student developers from Nanyang Polytechnic to assist the elderly as a personal assistant.[/caption] The Microsoft Developer Day event builds on the momentum from Build 2016 held in San Francisco in March, where Microsoft outlined how it would help developers embrace the new era of conversational intelligence and create more personal computing for every customer, industry and business. With Microsoft tools and services, developers can build on, and reach every platform, so they can code the way they want and reach as many customers as possible. Microsoft is also helping developers to build applications for the cloud realities of today, and the cloud evolution of tomorrow. The company is in a unique position to do this, as the only cloud provider that supports every organisation and developer, from core infrastructure services, to platform services and tools, to Software-as-a-Service, with the flexibility to build and run apps in any language across any platform.

ACE Lunchtime Workshops - Cognitive Services and Bot Framework Workshop

Mon, 23 May 2016 04:47:12 +0000

Register for the ACE Lunchtime Workshop - Microsoft Cognitive Services and Bot Framework! aka.ms/acelunchworkshop

Microsoft Developer Day Students Robotics Challenge (exclusive for onsite student attendees only)

Fri, 20 May 2016 05:36:50 +0000

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5lmwALOdH4[/embed] Credit: If you are interested (not necessary part of this competition) about the robot, it is based off the Rover Project by Prasantha Jayakody and Robot Kit by Windows IoT Background With Windows 10 Universal Windows Platform, developers can target small devices such as Raspberry Pi, Minnowboard Max and DragonBoard running Windows 10 IoT Core. “There’s no problem in Computer Science that can’t be solved by adding another level of indirection to it", well most…. Hence we were thinking, what if we gave student developers a challenging constrain to work around with? This basis of the challenge revolves around cheap affordable sensors. This competition is a fun activity which will test your problem solving skills when working with such constrains. On the surface, these challenges might seem shallow and easy. Here are some strategies you can consider.

MSP16 Website: Developer Commentary

Wed, 04 May 2016 15:28:11 +0000

We recently concluded the Microsoft Student Partners 2016 registration exercise, but what most people didn’t catch is that the website was full of Easter eggs and puzzles. Let me walk you through the backstage. For this year’s MSP recruitment, Microsoft reached out to a much larger student audience than we’ve ever handled. That meant we needed to implement some form of “noob filter”, taking the form of the 4 main questions:

Microsoft Student Partners Singapore 2015 Graduation

Sun, 01 May 2016 14:26:22 +0000

It has been one amazing year for the Singapore Microsoft Student Partners - one abundant with firsts and achievements. At the MSP15 Graduation Dinner on 22nd April, Microsoft Singapore’s Senior Leadership Team and Education Team sat down with the graduating MSPs as well as faculty members from various institutions. Jessica Tan, Managing Director for Microsoft Singapore thanked the MSPs for their hard work throughout the year. Dave Miller, Director of DX in APAC talked about working at Microsoft. Finally, Cheng Lei, University Recruiter gave advise to MSPs on moving from an MSP to securing a role at Microsoft. [caption id=“attachment_21833” align=“alignleft” width=“300”] Campus Surprise at NP[/caption] Since the 2015 batch of MSPs started in April 2015, there have been numerous workshops and hackathons across all campuses, celebrating and evangelizing Microsoft technology. Between October and November, for example, the MSPs ran Campus Surprise, a consolidated effort to bring Microsoft to Polytechnics and Universities that reached over 50,000 students who represent the next generation of innovators and creators – for Windows 10, DreamSpark, Azure, and Office 365. Aside from reaching their fellow schoolmates, the MSPs have also made an impact on their faculty staff and educators, helping them better understand and collaborate more closely Microsoft. [caption id=“attachment_21831” align=“alignright” width=“300”] MSP Volunteers at Code for Change[/caption] Through Microsoft’s Code for Change, We Tech Care, and TechFemme events, MSPs played key roles in teaching younger children how to code, and raised awareness for Computer Science. Through such events in support of Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative, MSPs also encouraged young women to take up careers in Infocomm media. MSP15 comprised of 21% female, an encouraging number compared to the previous year’s 6%. Diversity and inclusion is something that Microsoft is passionate about and deeply committed to, and this is a number we hope will grow as time passes. [caption id=“attachment_21832” align=“alignleft” width=“300”] Imagine Cup Singapore Finals 2016[/caption] Several MSPs attained notable achievements as well - the inaugural Microsoft Student Partner of the Year title, IT Youth Award finalists, Imagine Cup champions, and representing Singapore in Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships and Adobe Certified Associate World Champions are just the tip of the iceberg. With the new relationships built with many faculty members in the past year - bringing SUTD, SIM, and SIT on board the MSP programme, MSP16 is no doubt something to look forward to as we calibrate every part of Microsoft to deliver on our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Coding comes to ITE College West with Microsoft Code for Change

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 12:57:46 +0000

Coding comes to ITE College West with Microsoft Code for Change

More than 700 students across specialisations introduced to basic app creation and computational thinking

SINGAPORE – 11 April 2016 – Microsoft today conducted coding workshops for some 700 ITE College West students under its Code for Change programme, introducing them to the basics of coding for app creation and computational thinking. Held over two sessions for students across the four schools at the College – the School of Electronics & Info-Comm Technology, School of Hospitality, School of Engineering and School of Business & Services – the workshops provided students across various fields of study with the opportunity to learn and share the experience of coding alongside their peers. The activity also marks the first large-scale on-campus training for post-secondary students under the Code for Change programme. Launched in July 2015, Code for Change is a three-year nationwide initiative spearheaded by Microsoft, supported by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and the Science Centre Singapore, to boost next-generation talent development in support of Singapore’s Smart Nation vision. Through Code for Change, Microsoft is leading specific programmes to help young talents nationwide develop computational thinking skills. Defined as the ability to dissect problems and formulate solutions in a way that computers can understand and evaluate, computational thinking is an increasingly important skillset in the technology-permeated landscape. During the workshops held today, the ITE College West students tried their hand at building apps through Touch Develop, an interactive programming environment developed by Microsoft Research. Using their mobile phones or laptops, the students were exposed to how they can easily code on familiar everyday devices in a fun and accessible manner. [caption id=“attachment_21809” align=“alignleft” width=“300”] A Microsoft instructor shows ITE College West students how to build apps through Touch Develop, an interactive programming environment developed by Microsoft Research[/caption] The workshops were designed to allow all students, regardless of knowledge of coding or course of study, to create their own app by the end of the session. Besides those enrolled in the four courses from the School of Electronics & Info-Comm Technology (Higher Nitec in Information Technology, Higher Nitec in Cyber and Network Security, Higher Nitec in Electronics Engineering and Higher Nitec in Security System Integration), ITE College West students who participated in the training also come from other fields of study including the Higher Nitec in Hospitality Operations course from the School of Hospitality, the Nitec in Automotive Technology (Light Vehicles) and Nitec in Automotive Technology (Heavy Vehicles) courses from the School of Engineering and the Higher Nitec in Leisure & Travel Operations and Higher Nitec in Service Management courses from the School of Business & Services. “As Singapore transforms into a Smart Nation, it is important for the workforce of tomorrow to understand how technology works and how it can be used to improve the way we work, live and play. Coding and computational thinking are no longer areas that are important only to those in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. In fact, computational thinking is also embraced for its wide applicability to solve everyday problems. We are proud to be able to work closely with partners, schools and institutions such as the ITE to introduce coding to even more students and equip young talents with the necessary skillsets to become innovators of the future. Through Code for Change and our other initiatives, Microsoft will continue to get more people started on their coding journey and contribute towards the development of computational thinking as a national capability,” said Nobuhiro Ito, Director, Developer Experience & Evangelism, Microsoft Singapore. “As we prepare our students to be ready for their careers, we hope this coding workshop will help them develop computational thinking skills such as analytical and problem solving skills, creativity and logical thinking. These skills are transferable assets across industries and will certainly allow them to contribute more in their future jobs,” said Tan Kay Chuan, Director, School of Electronics & Info-Comm Technology, ITE College West. [caption id=“attachment_21810” align=“alignright” width=“300”] Students from ITE College West creating their own apps at Microsoft’s Code for Change workshop[/caption] Since its launch last year, Code for Change has reached over 147,000 learners and youths through various coding programmes such as learning experiences through on and off-campus curricula, events and competitions that impart the fundamental concepts of programming for software, applications and websites. Examples include Kodu coding workshops for lower primary students, Hour of Code programmes for upper primary and lower secondary students, Touch Develop and Project Spark workshops for secondary school, post-secondary and junior college students, and the Microsoft Imagine Cup Competition for institutes of higher learning. Microsoft and Science Centre Singapore also joined hands to achieve a record-breaking feat that made its way into the Singapore Book of Records for the Largest Number of People Wearing Illuminated LED TShirts. The event saw over 180 students from 17 schools across Singapore, as well as participants from Microsoft and Science Centre Singapore, come together to design and code individual LED T-Shirts, which lit up in unison to complete the record-breaking milestone. In addition, Microsoft has leveraged its partner network to conduct coding workshops for students and adults at Science Centre Singapore, and support Science Centre Singapore’s efforts in fostering widespread interest in the STEM fields. Code for Change events are running throughout the year and upcoming events opened to the public include:

Co-Residency Program Now Open for new intake!

Thu, 07 Apr 2016 04:18:57 +0000

Keen to work with us?

The BizSpark Residency programme offers selected startups in Singapore the opportunity to share co-working space at Microsoft Singapore, as well as business and technical support.To qualify, startups need to be:

An approved and active BizSpark startup (www.bizspark.com)
Have a technical/developer Founder(s)
Creating a product on Windows/Windows Phone/Microsoft Azure stack

Benefits of the programme include:

3+3* months complimentary co-working space at Microsoft Singapore
Technical expertise
Facilities support
No equity taken

To apply, please send the follow documents: Proposed timeline of the 3-6 month project you want to work on with specific deadlines and deliverables (sample attached) Specific support expected from Microsoft (e.g. technical expertise) Any sales/pitch decks that will help us understand your business If successful, we will arrange for a face-to-face meeting for subsequent follow up. Drop us an email at a-saneo@microsoft.com or a-eethen@microsoft.com

Microsoft @ IoT Asia 2016

Wed, 06 Apr 2016 04:30:03 +0000

Introduction to IoT Asia 2016

IoT Asia is an annual event that is held across Asia and it is the region’s leading platform in the Internet of Things (IoT). As for IoT Asia 2016 held from 30-31 March 2016, Singapore was chosen to be the venue host for the event. The theme of the event which was “From Vision To Reality” which reveals new insights on emerging trends, new key technologies and directions for IoT’s proliferation in the region. The goal of the event was also to stimulate in-depth discussions to drive business collaborations in the region and undertake real nuts and bolts of IoT implementation.

Microsoft Imagine Cup Singapore 2016 Winners

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 10:09:36 +0000

Singapore Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic Students Crowned Champions at the Microsoft Imagine Cup Singapore 2016

Standing out with innovative projects that demonstrated potential to influence gaming, healthcare and customer care fields, three teams now stand a chance to represent Singapore at the Imagine Cup 2016 World Finals in Seattle, Washington, USA

SINGAPORE, 1 April 2016 — Microsoft Singapore today crowned three outstanding student teams from Singapore Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic as the Games, Innovation and World Citizenship champions of Microsoft Imagine Cup Singapore 2016. Centred upon the theme “Creating with Code”, this year’s Imagine Cup competition saw a total of 65 project entries from 150 tertiary students, presenting a wide range of innovative applications, games and solutions that have the potential to influence gaming, healthcare, education, environment and customer care fields. Into its 14th edition this year, Microsoft’s premier student technology competition has inspired countless students over the years to dream and build original solutions that can change the world. This year, the winning projects – Imagine by Team Holy Trinity from Singapore Polytechnic, NYX by Team Natural Conquistadors from Singapore Polytechnic and Ruth by Team Yuuy from Nanyang Polytechnic outshone their competitors with their innovation and soundness of ideas, to emerge as victors in the Microsoft Imagine Cup Singapore 2016 Finals.

Microsoft Build 2016: Keynote Highlights

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 03:50:30 +0000

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.

Microsoft Build 2016! - BASH on Windows 10

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 22:48:36 +0000

Its that time of the year, where Microsoft will be unveiling new technologies at Build 2016. Microsoft is reaching out to Linux developers in a way that the company never has before. “The Bash shell is coming to Windows. Yes, the real Bash is coming to Windows,” said Microsoft’s Kevin Gallo on stage at Build 2016 keynote. The announcement received an uproarious applause from the crowd. The new functionality will be enabled as part of this summer’s Anniversary Update to Windows 10. “This is not a VM. This is not cross-compiled tools. This is native,” he said. “We’ve partnered with Canonical to offer this great experience, which you’ll be able to download right from the Windows Store.” Third-party tools have enabled this sort of thing for years, but a direct partnership between Microsoft and Canonical should offer even more flexibility and convenience for developers who prefer using these binaries and tools. All of the Linux commands are shown to be running natively, as shown in the video below: https://sec.ch9.ms/sessions/build/2016/P488.mp4 With this added functionality, developers can now code and develop in Linux natively

iCTLT 2016 - International Conference on Teaching and Learning with Technology

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 13:04:33 +0000

_i_CTLT 2016, the 5th International Conference on Teaching and Learning with Technology, will be held in Singapore from 28 - 31 March 2016. The biennial conference is a testimony to the commitment of the Ministry of Education, Singapore and Academy of Principals Singapore to the use of technology in advancing 21st Century teaching and learning. _i_CTLT 2016’s theme Future Ready: Inspire, Connect, Transform invites delegates to engage in sharing their insights, practices, experiences and research studies so as to envision and share emerging trends in the field of educational technology. As part of the theme, Microsoft was there to showcase the myriad of ways that Technology is powering our education in the 21st Century. From Windows 10 to Office 365, friendly Microsoft staff were on hand to answer queries. [caption id=“attachment_21662” align=“alignnone” width=“770”] Microsoft’s booth at iCTLT 2016[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_21661” align=“alignnone” width=“770”] Terence demonstrating the use of Office Mix and Sway[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_21663” align=“alignnone” width=“772”] Windows 10 - With Terence and Jason[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_21664” align=“alignnone” width=“772”] Microsoft Partners discussing solutions and ideas, fuelling innovation in classes![/caption]

2016 Global Azure Boot Camp

Thu, 24 Mar 2016 08:57:22 +0000

Global Azure Boot camp 2016 Singapore, becomes BIGGER this year! 3 Tracks, 18 speakers and 19 sessions. Join us for a day of fun and intensive training with Azure, register at http://singapore.azurebootcamp.net/ !

Spiffy SG is recruiting!

Wed, 23 Mar 2016 01:55:25 +0000

Spiffy SG is recruiting!

Using Spiffy as a platform, you can write articles that help establish you as a subject matter expert, expands your professional reach and gives you an opportunity to build a personal brand online.

Why write for us? 1. Instant local techie audience with notable overseas impact · On social media, we’re popular among the 25-34 crowd with a potential social outreach of half a million eyeballs. We publicize our writers ‘articles to our active online communities with an engagement rate (calculated via shares, comments and likes) almost twice the ratio of the average social media site. 2. Write what you’re passionate about – and build your portfolio with us · Blogging – one of the best ways to share thought leadership. Take your time and build your personal brand on the value of your ideas alone. You can advance your professional reach by sharing your thoughts with the local tech audience base via Spiffy. 3. Access to exclusive tech events · We host regular events and networking activities, and would love for you to join us and write about what you learnt. You can expand your network and share your knowledge with the community.

Startup Feature: BandLab Founder, Meng Kuok

Tue, 22 Mar 2016 05:34:59 +0000

For this month’s startup feature, we will be interviewing Meng Kuok, CEO of BandLab. BandLab is a cloud platform where musicians and fans create music, collaborate and engage with each other across the globe. Hi Meng, what’s your current role in BandLab, and how did your past experiences take you here? I’m the CEO and Co-Founder of BandLab. Apart from my other job running Swee Lee Music (www.sweelee.com.sg), I think the most relevant experience I had prior to BandLab was actually my own journey in music and understanding first-hand some of the challenges facing musicians and aspiring creators. How did you come up with the idea? And what problem is BandLab trying to solve? The seed was planted during my time working with my other Co-Founder, Steve Skillings, as Swee Lee began representing JamHub, a product he had invented. We connected deeply on his idea of the possibilities of new technology enabling a Cloud DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). The theme of collaboration and enabling the creative process subsequently began a wonderful conversation that has taken us here. We’re excited to see where it will take musicians in the future. In terms of the problem we were trying to solve, we wanted to make things easier for musicians and to simplify the very fragmented process of creating music. I think that’s what BandLab is genuinely capable of doing: breaking down those technological, creative and geographical barriers between musicians and making it easier to collaborate together. How long did Bandlab take to finish development? (before the product could meet the market) Like any software company, it’s very much an ongoing process. There’s always something new to add, improve or change, so hopefully we’ll never actually “finish” development! But it took us about 9 months from first assembling the team to going live with a product that we felt proud to launch and start to receive feedback on. What are your preferred platforms/tools? My weapon of choice is a Fender Stratocaster, but I don’t get to use it much these days. It’s mostly been replaced by Excel, Trello and Slack. Have you gotten any interesting feedback from users of the app? Some of the most meaningful feedback has been from users that have shared what BandLab has done for them outside of music. I was chatting about the app with one of our users, who told me a lovely story about how BandLab has given her a way to reconnect more closely with her older sister. As children, they used to make music together all the time—she would play piano and her sister would sing—but they now live 3000 miles away from each other. The platform has given them a chance to re-engage musically, and was enriching their long-distance relationship dramatically. It’s feedback like this that really drives us on as a team (as well as fixing the bugs that any technology product comes across from time to time!). I think the rate of engagement of our users suggests that we are on to building a thriving and lively community of musicians and music lovers. How do you keep yourself motivated, especially during the low times? So far, the forward momentum has been extremely compelling, so the lows thankfully haven’t been that low or that frequent! But some of the best advice I’ve ever received has been: “Don’t be too happy when things are going well, and don’t be too sad when they’re not.” On a day-to-day basis, I’m particularly energized by being able to work with a team who are all highly motivated by what we’re doing—creating new opportunities and possibilities for music creators. If you could go back in time when you first started, what would you have done differently? While I want to learn from past mistakes, I’m not one to dwell on them too much or regret the decisions I’ve made. I’m a firm believer that every decision is made with the wisdom I have at the time. An important lesson I’ve definitely learnt is that—especially when you’re working with new user behaviour—it’s important to find the balance between what people already understand and know how to use, and how far forward you can go on innovating to solve a problem. What’s next for you? A flight to Hong Kong! What’s one advice you would give to budding entrepreneurs? Live and die by your vision, but never be afraid to question it. What’s it been like working with Musicians as an audience? Tremendously meaningful. It’s a cliche, but it doesn’t matter where you’re from, what background, what age you are—music is a wonderful shared language that brings people together.

Microsoft's We Tech Care 2016

Sat, 12 Mar 2016 15:36:19 +0000

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.

We Tech Care 2016

Tue, 23 Feb 2016 08:16:12 +0000

Join us for a fun-filled day, pick up essential digital skills or discover the various starts-ups at JTC LaunchPad at We Tech Care 2016! For the 10th year running, Microsoft is participating in the President’s Challenge. The goal is to bring Microsoft employees, non-profit organisations and business partners together to raise funds to empower people and bridge the opportunity divide through what we know best – technology. For this purpose, We Tech Care is returning this year – bigger and better, on March 12th! This fun-filled and meaningful event will also highlight the work and solutions of incubators and startups at the JTC LaunchPad@one-north. To learn more about the communities and charities this event supports, click here.

Microsoft Student Partners Singapore – November, December, January Summary

Sun, 31 Jan 2016 16:46:56 +0000

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.

Map Masters | January 2016 Award Cycle (Part II)

Sun, 24 Jan 2016 04:30:54 +0000

In this Part II series of our January 2016 Awardees, we are shining spotlight on our Indonesia Map Masters! ———————————————————————————————————————————————– AUDE ILMAN | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry A Geography undergraduate at the University of Indonesia, Aude Ilman feels a great sense of ownership in the HERE Expert Community Program where he finds that he can put into practice what he has learnt from his studies. He likes the creativeness and fun part of the HERE Expert Community Program where he finds the activities are not only engaging, but also helps to create greater awareness around his neighborhood. Congratulations on your Map Master award! ———————————————————————————————————————————————– MUHAMMAD SYAHFIN LUBIS | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry Muhammad Syahfin Lubis or Bang Syahfin hails from one of the largest in Sumatera Island, Medan. Touring on his motorbike is one of his passion and thus being awarded a Map Master in the HERE Expert Community Program has provided him with more opportunities to contribute tons of valuable information via HERE Map Creator, not to mention inviting his motorbike community to be part of this meaningful mission. ———————————————————————————————————————————————– ULIFATUS SA’DIYAH | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry Ulifatus Sa’diyah (Ulif) is our new Map Master from Semarang, Indonesia. Semarang has been continuously the most active local chapter in Indonesia, and Ulif is one of the most active user from Local Chapter Semarang. Last year Ulif received a special appreciation from the Dean of Faculty of Technic, Diponegoro University for being one of the most outstanding student in his cohort due to his significant contribution to activities outside of his curriculum - which is his participation and involvement in the t HERE Indonesia Expert Community Program ———————————————————————————————————————————————– IRVAN NONGKA | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry Irvan Nongka (Irvan) comes from Makassar, the biggest city in eastern part of Indonesia. He has heard about the HERE Expert Community from the social media campaign(s) that the HERE Indonesia community has rolled out last year, and eversince that time he has been very pro-active in contributing to HERE Map Creator. It was out of his passion that Irvan established the Local Chapter Makassar. As a Map Master, Irvan feels that the HERE Exper…t Community program is very good initiative as the whole strategy behind building a map involves getting the local people who are our eyes and help capture the many important changes in HERE Map Creator. Being a Map Master, he also wants to leverage on this opportunity to invite more people to join in the community program and be part of this meaningful mission in HERE. Congratulations Irvan! ———————————————————————————————————————————————– KEMALA MEDIKA PUTRI | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry Kemala Medika Putri (Dika) is a second year Map Master and the live wire in the HERE Indonesia Expert Community program for Local Chapter Semarang. Also known as the “Queen of Map Master” because of her love and passion for travel mapping, Kemala has travel mapped more than 30 cities within 5 months. Kemala feels that the HERE Expert Community Program is a good platform to channelize her hobby in travel, help others and at the same time, improve the local economy by providing the most updated and high quality maps. Congratulations on your well-deserved renewal! ———————————————————————————————————————————————– FIFTRI PERMONO | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry Fiftri Permono (Mas Fiftri) is a second year Map Master from Purwokerto, Indonesia. He has been part of the HERE Expert Community program since early 2014 and during that time, he has been very consistent in providing major contribution for Local Chapter Purwokerto. One of his 2015 masterpiece for HERE Indonesia Expert Community program was his trip to Jawa Island where he and other community members helped to collect railroad geometry for the entire Jawa Island! Congratulations again on your renewal! ———————————————————————————————————————————————– LUQMAN HAKIM (LUCKY) | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry Second year Map Master Luqman Hakim (Lucky) is a student from the Geomatics, 10th November Institute of Technology. Lucky has been part of the HERE Map Expert Community Program since 2013 as the biggest motivation for him was that he got to learn about GIS. In 2015, Lucky contributed a significant amount of House Numbers/Point Address in Surabaya area and one of his mission in 2016 is to expand and scale the local chapter so as to gather more new and significant contribution for the HERE Expert Community Program. Congratulations on your renewal Lucky! ———————————————————————————————————————————————– MOCHAMAD YASIN | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry A second year Map Master, Mochammad Yasin joined the HERE Map Expert Community Program in early 2014 when he was still a student of Informatics, 10th November Institute of Technology. A mobile developer by profession where he participated in HERE’s First Map Creator API challenge, Yasin was also one of the pioneer who helped established the local chapter activity in Surabaya in 2015 and did his travel mapping to Madura Island, East Java. Congratulations on your renewal Yasin! ———————————————————————————————————————————————– RIZALDI DWI BAWANOYUDO | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry Rizaldi Bawonoyudo is into his SECOND Year as a Map Master from Bandung, west Java. When he was still a Resource and Environmental Economics student in Bogor Agricultural Institute, Rizaldi was awarded a Map Master for Bogor City, West Java. Upon graduation, Rizaldi moved to Bandung. One of his mission as a Map Master for Bandung is to expand the Local Chapter over there since Bandung has many interesting POI especially those on tourism and restaurants where he believes this are important attributes which needs to be available in HERE.com. Congratulations on your renewal! ———————————————————————————————————————————————– NABIELA SARAH | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry Nabiela Sarah is our new Map Master from Bandung, Indonesia and currently an undergraduate from the Bandung Polytechnic State University. Nabiela joined the HERE Indonesia Expert Community Program since 2014 and during that time, she has been actively building local chapter activities for Greater Bandung and conducted a few travel mapping activities in West Java region. Being a Map Master not only provides her the opportunity to travel for all her mapping activities, but it also widen her social circle of friends and helps to refresh her mind from the daily grind. ———————————————————————————————————————————————– Proudly brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Program

Map Masters | January 2016 Award Cycle (Part I)

Sat, 23 Jan 2016 04:30:10 +0000

On January 1st, 2016, 27 exemplary community leaders (12 renewed and 15 new) around Southeast Asia were notified that they have received the Map Master title. The HERE Expert Community Program was established in June 2014 and recognizes exceptional HERE Map advocates who actively play a vital role in the map-making process, adoption and advancement of the map creation technology—and in helping HERE Map to creating a truly global map so that you will feel like a local, wherever you are. Not only do we have 18 brand new additions, we also have 10 re-rewarded Map Masters who will hold the Map Master title for another year. Congratulations on being inducted into the HERE Expert Community Program for the 2016 January award cycle. The caliber of your mapping contribution work is exceptional, and will have a major impact in scaling HERE to greater heights in the year ahead. Your achievements are a source of pride and inspiration to all of us. In this first series of Map Master Spotlights, we are featuring the Philippines Map Masters! —————————————————————————————————————————— ELISEO MORALES | Contributions: Point Address Eliseo is on his SECOND year as a HERE Map Master and advocate! Awesome!! Elliseo is an ambulance navigator under the Bacoor Family Care Development Center for the City Government of Bacoor. He was able to contribute over 50,000 of point addresses to HERE Map Creator. A well deserved on your renewal Eliseo! We salute you!! —————————————————————————————————————————— XYLDON NOEL JACOB | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address Xyldon is a Software Engineer at EQELA. The Philippines HERE Team has worked with Xyldon on EQELA’s training program in different regions in the Philippines where he leads the training programs for Android, Web Development, and gathering of map advocates and volunteers for HERE Map Creator. In their spare times during weekends, Xyldon and his officemates map their hometowns by gathering points of interests and point addresses. Congratulations on your Map Master award Xyldon! —————————————————————————————————————————— WALDEN MENDIOLA | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address Walden enjoys the outdoors and is part of the East Wind Outdoors Club (EWOC). He is a mountaineer and he loves mapping their journeys whether it’s going to the mountain peak or going to scenic tourist spots. Walden was able to contribute mountain trails in HERE Map Creator where our cars cannot go through with an amazing feat of more than 2,000 point addresses collected! Congratulations on your Map Master award Walden!! —————————————————————————————————————————— Help me welcome and congratulate the HERE Map Master Inaugural class for the January 2016 award cycle. This class embodies the spirit of the mapping community. They go above and beyond the data, for the data. Way to go! Stay tuned for more spotlights on our January 2016 Map Masters coming your way soon!!! Enjoy your award, have fun and happy mapping! Brought to you by The SEA HERE Expert Community Program Team

Query Performance Insight in Azure SQL

Thu, 21 Jan 2016 04:17:26 +0000

DTU: Database Transaction Unit

DTU is an important keyword to understand, especially for those who have been thinking about migrating databases from on-premise MS SQL Server to Azure SQL. Before the migration, there is normally a question to ask, “which service tier and performance level should I use and how much do I need to pay?” Hence, if you read the Azure SQL pricing page, you will be presented with tables similar to what is shown below. [caption id=“attachment_21526” align=“aligncenter” width=“1058”] Azure SQL Pricing (Southeast Asia)[/caption] As shown in the table above, there are four performance levels for Standard Single Database Model, i.e. S0, S1, S2, and S3. Four of them having the same maximum storage for each database, however, they are charged differently because the DTUs they offer are different. So, what is DTU, or the Database Transaction Unit? When the new Azure SQL database service tiers are introduced, DTU is used as a way to describe the relative capacity of a performance level based on a blended measure of CPU, memory and IO rates. DTU is the unit of measure representing the relative power of databases based on the database transaction. S0 offers 10 DTUs, which means S0 can complete only 10 transactions per second. For me, the concept of DTU is a bit vague. When I look at the old chart in Azure SQL Pricing, there was actually an additional row called “Transactions per Second” which had value about the same as or lower than the corresponding DTU. Thus, S0, for example, can in fact only complete 8.7 transactions (instead of 10) per second. So, is there any method to help us making changes in our queries so that we can utilize the given resources in a good manner? Or, how do we know where our DTUs are spent?

Windows 10 for the Enterprise and Business Users

Mon, 11 Jan 2016 16:00:07 +0000

Windows 10 has been launched for more than 5 months now, and it is already active on over 200 million devices since earlier this year! If you are a business or enterprise owner, there are many great reasons to use Windows 10 in your corporate environment. In this post, I’ll be sharing with you some of these reasons, which can be summarized as follows:

1. Protection against modern security threats

It’s a common problem for IT administrators that passwords alone aren’t sufficient, as they can be easily phished, guessed, or stolen. Although multi-factor solutions are much more secure, they are usually very costly to implement and cumbersome to use. In order to increase security, IT administrators then implement policies for their users to change passwords (with a certain level of complexity) ever so frequently, making life so difficult for their users. So what do users do? The write it down somewhere, or stick it on their screens! With Windows 10, authentication becomes effortless as it is easier to deploy and use with Microsoft Passport and Windows Hello. Microsoft Passport is a new approach to certificate-based authentication that supports many multi-factor credential options. Windows Hello offers the biometric portion of multi-factor authentication so users can use their face, iris or fingerprint to unlock their Windows devices, effectively making the users themselves the password. Even twins can’t fool Windows Hello! Additionally, protection of corporate credentials is enabled on Windows 10 using Credential Guard, which isolates critical processes from attackers and mitigate Pass-the-hash attacks. Windows 10 now includes a solution for protecting critical business information from leaks or theft, while separating corporate and personal files on every device – critical in bring your own devices (BYOD) scenarios. With deep integration into the platform – Enterprise Data Protection (EDP) provides seamless encryption of business data for end users and works for both mobile and desktop scenarios.

Changing from Dynamic Virtual IP to Reserved IP - Azure

Thu, 31 Dec 2015 03:18:51 +0000

UPDATE: I have since automated the process of doing this using a PowerShell Script which is available HERE Having used Azure for IaaS for almost 2 years, one headache I keep encountering is the fact that although Azure provisions your VM in the specified region, the Virtual IP (VIP) that it assigns to the VM is typically an US VIP. As such, many web services think that I’m are from the US when I’m actually not. Through much Goo.. Binging, I managed to find out how can I reserve a local VIP so that I don’t have to keep re-provisioning the same VM to make sure I get a local VIP. Before we start this article, do ensure you have PowerShell and have installed the Azure PowerShell Cmdlets. You can install the Azure PowerShell Cmdlets by downloading and running the Web Platform Installer that Microsoft kindly provides from the below link. http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=320376 After you have downloaded the Installer, execute it by double clicking on it and following through with the steps. With all pre requisites satisfied, lets start from the Azure portal. Here, you can see that I have already provisioned a VM for this article. UPDATE: I have since automated the process of doing this using a PowerShell Script which is available HERE You can see from this picture that the assigned VIP is in the USA which is not what we want. UPDATE: I have since automated the process of doing this using a PowerShell Script which is available HERE So in the past I would generally keep re-provisioning the VM till I get the wanted VIP which is very tedious and time consuming. Plus the assigned VIP will be lost if the VM is de-provisioned. So we can solve this by Reserving an IP for our VM. We start by starting up PowerShell and typing in Get-AzurePublishSettingsFile This is used to get a settings file that we can use in PowerShell Sign in with your Microsoft Account that has the Azure You will then download a settings file that you will have to import into PowerShell Switch back to PowerShell and type in the following code followed by the location of the file which in this case is my downloads folder. Import-AzurePublishSettingsFile "C:\Users\YourUser\Downloads\NameOfYourSettingsFile" Now for the rather tedious part which I assure you is only for this time. Go ahead and type in the PowerShell console 1)New-AzureReservedIP -ReservedIPName "spiffytestVIP" -Location "Southeast Asia" -ServiceName "spiffytest" What that does is to add a new Reserved IP in the Southeast Asia region with the name “spiffytestVIP” to your subscription. Ensure that the Instance is running before adding the Reserved IP Check that the VIP is the one you want by executing 2)Get-AzureReservedIP `` This will give you a list of reserved VIPs that you currently have. If you don't have the VIP that you want, go ahead and remove the current reserved IP 3)`Remove-AzureReservedIPAssociation -ReservedIPName "spiffytestVIP" -ServiceName "spiffytest"` `` Repeat steps 1-3 to get the VIP that you want. Once you have gotten the VIP that you want, rest assured that the VIP will not disappear even if you de-provision your VM. Assigning Reserved IP to VM Type into the PowerShell Console Set-AzureReservedIPAssociation -ReservedIPName "spiffytest" -ServiceName "spiffytest" And that’s it! Go ahead and enjoy your new Reserved IP!

4 Things Corporates Wished Startups Knew

Mon, 30 Nov 2015 06:21:48 +0000

Working for the past two years helping to manage the Microsoft startup programme BizSpark, I’ve definitely been stuck in meetings where I desperately wished the startup could have presented their businesses in a much better manner. Here are four quick tips I think will help founders who are looking to work closely with corporate incubators/accelerators/programmes in Singapore.

1. Clearly articulate what you do

I cannot emphasise how deadly important it is to give a concise introduction of what you do. It seems like a really basic premise, but so often I’ve had to search through jargon-filled websites and rambling speeches telling me that the startup is looking to “change the world”, “provide innovative solutions” or “be the disruptive transformation”. To what, exactly? I find that the best introductions are often short and worded within a single sentence. I’ve also had a meeting where the founder couldn’t decide if he was a startup, incubator or accelerator - he said he was a “mix of all three”, and still couldn’t explain this strange definition after an hour of convoluted presenting. Although not completely implausible, this is still a bit of a red flag. Tip: “We provide a [specific solution] to address [problem] to help [target audience]” is a great opening starter.

Microsoft Student Partners Singapore - October Summary

Sun, 22 Nov 2015 19:54:47 +0000

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!

Microsoft and Code.org team up to bring ‘Minecraft’ to Hour of Code

Wed, 18 Nov 2015 00:11:38 +0000

Microsoft and Code.org team up to bring ‘Minecraft’ to Hour of Code “Minecraft” Hour of Code tutorial aims to introduce millions of youth to the creativity of computer science. REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 16, 2015 — Microsoft Corp. and Code.org on Monday unveiled a “Minecraft” coding tutorial for students and educators, created especially for the third-annual Hour of Code, a campaign to broaden global participation in computer science, held during Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 7–13. The new tutorial, now available at https://www.code.org/mc, introduces players to basic coding within the fun and popular “Minecraft” environment. Created by “Minecraft” game designers together with Code.org, the tutorial features Steve and Alex from “Minecraft” and “Minecraft”-inspired challenges that will be familiar to its more than 100 million players around the world. Designed for ages 6 and up, the “Minecraft” tutorial introduces players to basic coding skills, encouraging them to navigate, mine, craft and explore in a 2-D “Minecraft” world by plugging together blocks to complete all actions and generate computer code. Players are offered a set of 14 challenges, including free play time, to explore coding concepts they’ve learned through the tutorial. “‘Minecraft’ is a special game that girls and boys alike often can’t be pried away from,” said Code.org CEO and Co-founder Hadi Partovi. “Microsoft continues to be Code.org’s most generous donor and one of the largest supporters of the worldwide movement to give every student the opportunity to learn computer science. This year’s ‘Minecraft’ tutorial will empower millions of learners around the world to explore how a game they love actually works and will inspire them to impact the world by creating their own technology or apps.” To date, more than 100 million students across 180 countries and 40 languages have participated in the Hour of Code, including one in three students in U.S. schools. This year, the campaign expects to exceed 100,000 events during Dec. 7?13 and to continue introducing more girls and underrepresented students of color to this foundational 21st century field. In support of Code.org and the global Hour of Code campaign, Microsoft will also lead thousands of Hour of Code events in more than 50 countries around the world. Events will take place at Microsoft stores, offices and innovation centers as well as facilities of Microsoft’s YouthSpark nonprofit partners and schools. They will be led by over 7,000 Microsoft Student Partners, Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) and employee volunteers. In addition, Microsoft is gifting Windows Store credit to every educator who organizes an Hour of Code event worldwide. About Code.org Launched in 2013, Code.org® is a non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science, and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color. Its vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science. Code.org believes computer science should be part of core curriculum, alongside other courses such as biology, chemistry or algebra. For more information, visit https://www.Code.org.

Startup Feature: KUMO Founder, Charlotte Tang

Mon, 09 Nov 2015 06:30:11 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_21422” align=“alignnone” width=“5184”] Partner Awards 2015 - Partner Start-Up Awardee[/caption] For this month’s startup feature, we will be interviewing Charlotte, CEO of KUMO. KUMO recently won the Partner Start-Up Award 2015 and in this interview, we will be learning more about Charlotte and her experiences at KUMO.

Hi Charlotte, what’s your current role in KUMO, and how did your past experiences take you here?

CEO. Before KUMO we started Success Outsourcing to enable companies to succeed in Asia by establishing their set ups in Singapore, The Gateway to AsiaTM. We travelled half way across the world to Israel to educate startups about the advantages of getting started in a country with the infrastructure like Singapore. The journey has been a fulfilling and rewarding path. We have matured and grown a lot as an organization over a short period of time.

IT Influencer Hero 2015

Mon, 09 Nov 2015 06:18:45 +0000

Become an IT Influencer Hero

Time to bring your influence over to the World Wide Web and win prizes from Microsoft. Join Influencer Hero competition to take this opportunity to showcase and shine on Channel 9, a popular technical video channel with millions of viewers globally or stand up as a technical guru who saves the day by helping others in technical forums. Simply engage with audience through submission of online learning video or help on the forum support. Points will be awarded during the competition period for your hero activities. Results will be published on the leaderboard regularly. Competition starts today till December 31, 2015. Winner will be announced on January 8, 2016. Participate now by completing the registration form by November 15, 2015.

The Cloud and .NET Moment (FREE - DevFest.Asia Edition)

Fri, 06 Nov 2015 05:43:44 +0000

This event is part of DevFest.Asia 2015, Southeast Asia’s first community organized web developer festival. FREE FOR ALL developers! The next .NET Developers and Azure community meetup will be on Thursday, November 19th, 2015. This is a special edition of .NET developers and Azure community meetup in conjunction with DevFest.Asia 2015. Let’s have a Cloud and .NET moment! For this event, we will be inviting top-notch speakers from Microsoft. SPEAKER ONE Christian Heilmann: More than 20 years as Web expert, HTML5 and JavaScript expert, spoken at 129 events in 26 countries, a Developer Evangelist - all things for open web, HTML5, writing books, articles, blogs, podcast, Channel 9 (MSDN), YouTube, you name it! Chris is a Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, working on Microsoft Edge. You want to know what is Microsoft Edge all about, first hand from the person, than you need to join this moment! Ask him! SPEAKER TWO Ryan J. Salva: JS Developer, Apache Cordova Advocate, Visual Studio Program Manager, CrossFitter, SciFi Connoisseur and Whiskey Enthusiast. Ryan is a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft, working in the Visual Studio Client Tools team where he looks after HTML, CSS and JavaScript development. He comes from a 15 year career in web standards development & advocacy as an entrepreneur, developer and graphic designer. Today, he focuses primarily on mobile app development using web technologies and Apache Cordova. Seriously, if you want to know what is cross-platform or hybrid app, than he is one of the person you should see. Ask him! So what are you waiting for? Join Us! Click HERE to sign up!

HERE Expert Community Program Kicks off 'Community Goes Live' Initiative

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 05:01:41 +0000

HERE Expert Community Program Kicks off ‘Community Goes Live’ Initiative! For the Community, By the Community! Community Goes Live (#ComLiveIn3-2-1) is a series of on-live webcasts delivered by the HERE Community team, HERE Map Masters and other community leaders. These are free and informative live webcasts delivered every month, broadcasted and made available to anyone, anywhere, to learn about anything regarding community best practices (sharing best practices, tips and tricks, hot topics revolving around community, local chapter experience etc) and presented across Southeast Asia in 5 languages (English, Bahasa, Thai, Tagalog etc). Registration for the webcasts is via Eventbrite. Our goal is to bring together bright minds to give talks that are idea and community focused, and on a wide range of subjects, to foster learning, inspiration and wonder – and provoke conversations that matter. The first ‘Community Goes Live’ will be taking place for Indonesia in English on 30th October 2015 @ 5pm (Indonesia time) and we will be sharing on the Local Chapter Program Overview and Upcoming Flash Mob Challenge. Register via EventBrite now to hear from the experts! Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Program

Customizing Authorization Attribute in ASP .NET

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 04:56:42 +0000

Every day after work, during dinner, our team will chat about what we have learnt, what we have done, and new project ideas. Today, I’d like to share with you one of our dinner topics about customizing authorization attribute in ASP .NET MVC5. [caption id=“attachment_21371” align=“aligncenter” width=“922”] Having dinner in airport transit area after work is enjoyable.[/caption] We’re now working on building a product management web application for a small company of around 100 employees. In the company, there are many teams, such as marketing, design, retail, product, advertising, and so on. One of the project requirements is thus to allow user logging in to the system with their own account. In ASP .NET MVC 5 project, by default, if individual user account is chosen as the authentication mode, ASP .NET Identity will use Entity Framework Code First to create a database and then store all the user information in a database. [caption id=“attachment_21378” align=“aligncenter” width=“756”] Individual User Account option in Visual Studio 2013[/caption] Role Based Access Control Normally, there will be five tables generated: AspNetUsers, AspNetUserRoles, AspNetRoles, AspNetUserLogins, AspNetUserClaims. With the help of the first three tables, we will be able to implement role-based authentication which we can restrict access to parts of our application by roles. How do we define roles? In some applications, the roles are super admin, manager, operator, agent, etc. For our case, the teams are the roles. So we will have one role for each individual team. After that, we can easily add all members in the team to the corresponding role. Then in our web application, we will be able to check if the current logged in user has the role to access or not by decorating our controllers with Authorize attribute as follows.

Microsoft Student Partners Singapore - September Summary

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 04:30:44 +0000

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!

Channel 9: Windows 10 Development for Absolute Beginners

Mon, 12 Oct 2015 04:30:34 +0000

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:

Meet Surface Pro 4

Tue, 06 Oct 2015 18:03:49 +0000

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.

A New Era of Windows 10 Devices from Microsoft

Tue, 06 Oct 2015 17:37:15 +0000

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.”

King of the East

Fri, 02 Oct 2015 04:30:13 +0000

Local Chapter | Bogor To enhance the students skills in Survey and Mapping, community members from the Local Chapter | Bogor (Adi Sanggoro Vocational School) spent around 6 weeks doing field data collection of house numbers in Jakarta. With their extensive background in survey and mapping, this field activity was definitely not a new thing for our 4 musketeers Wiwit, Tanti, Naufal, and Rizki. (Remember our 2 brave guys who conquered the biggest textile market in SEA?) Understanding the Market With 28 million people in the metropolitan area, 6 satellite cities, and nearly 10 million vehicles in daily use, Jakarta is nominated as one of the biggest city in the world. Therefore preparation to define the scope of work was needed to ensure they address the collection in the important area from a user perspective. From the HERE Jakarta office, the duo Risdianto Ade Rubi and Iqbal Dharmaputra also played a significant role to identify the correct area and regularly monitor the activities on a daily basis. The HERE Helmet Preparation become imperfect without good execution, and execution will not reach it’s optimal without good equipment. Introducing the HERE Helmet – the helmet looks like an ordinary motorbike helmet, but if we looked closer, the HERE Helmet uses the “Contour Action Camera" to help us record all the house numbers and point of interest during the collection. By using this special helmet, we can improved the capability, efficiency, speed, and quality of the collection particularly during the collection and post collection step. Action speaks louder than words. Up to date, we have collected 4,000+ new point address and updated it into HERE Map Creator. Good Job Guys!

Tokyo Game Show 2015

Thu, 01 Oct 2015 16:02:45 +0000

Three weeks ago, I made my way to Japan for the Tokyo Game Show 2015 (TGS'15). For those who are unaware, TGS'15 is an annual games show held in Japan where many different publishers and indie developers alike come to Japan to showcase their games. There’s cosplay, game demos and many other interesting events. The show itself spans a few halls which are spread out across two buildings. The main events and booths take place at halls 1 - 8 which featured all the big name companies like Sony, EA, Konami and so on. While it was a pity that Microsoft did not attend TGS this year, here are the highlights:

Gone in 60 Minutes!

Wed, 30 Sep 2015 04:30:14 +0000

Local Chapter | Jakarta

In Jogjakarta, we have our University partner coming from the Islamic State University – Sunan Kalijaga whilst in Jakarta, we have our partner from the Geography Department from the University of Indonesia.

Gone in 60 Minutes

The Geography Department, University of Indonesia has been part of HERE Indonesia Expert Community Program since early 2014. They have been extremely important supporting HERE to moderate/endorse the Point of Interest (POI) data that was contributed by other community members. This September, the students volunteers were tasked with a special mission.

HERE Explores the Outdoors!

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 04:30:14 +0000

It is truly amazing to see that the HERE Expert Community Program in the Philippines has grown to include so many interesting individuals over the course of a few years. Members come from such diverse backgrounds and age groups. From students to government officials to developers, the HERE Expert Community Program members share the same drive – that is, to share their knowledge and create the best map of the country! Miko Santos is one of these individuals. A mobile developer and an avid mountaineer, Miko is one of HERE Philippines’ leading community members in terms of outdoor mapping since July of this year. With about 21 mountains and over 300 KM of hiking trails added in Map Creator, he has shown what it means to be a HERE Explorer! Taking his love for the outdoors and his passion for mapping, he has also created PH Mountains - a comprehensive guide app (available on iOS and Android) to the multitude of mountains in the Philippines. Users of PH Mountains can search for mountains and photos, organize their trips, check the weather, cross off their climbing goals with a personal mountain checklist, and search for the nearest outdoor stores to buy gear for that next climb.

Enable "GodMode" in Windows 10

Fri, 25 Sep 2015 04:30:04 +0000

“GodMode” has been around since Windows Vista. It basically gives you some of the hidden settings and functions in Windows. It’s not extremely powerful but it is fun XD

Steps to Enable

Login as an Administrator
Create a new folder
Rename the folder as “GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}”
Here is your “GodMode” control panel!

Cheers Lungic \(^o^)/

Splash Awards 2015 Winners

Thu, 24 Sep 2015 04:30:01 +0000

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:

Startup Feature: KICKLE

Wed, 23 Sep 2015 04:30:05 +0000

[caption id=“Kickle” align=“alignnone” width=“581”] Cofounder of KICKLE[/caption]

KICKLE is the brainchild of French startups Neitiv(technical experts in instantaneous communication) and Wipple(market experts in collaborative technology). This collaboration was inspired by a client who was looking for a simple solution based on Lync (now Skype for Business) technology. KICKLE is located in the Microsoft Technology Center at Paris and is expanding to Singapore and Indonesia. In this startup feature, we speak with Matthieu GIORGINI, cofounder of KICKLE who tells us about his personal experience with KICKLE.

Consoles, Games Galore at Xbox FanFest 2015

Tue, 22 Sep 2015 04:30:04 +0000

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

Five Students with Disabilities Awarded the Microsoft YouthSpark Scholarship

Mon, 21 Sep 2015 04:30:27 +0000

On the 18th of September, Microsoft awarded 5 students with the Microsoft YouthSpark Scholarship during the Towards an Inclusive Workforce 2015 event organized by Society for the Physically Disabled. These outstanding individuals demonstrate excellent academic credentials, strong leadership potential and a passion for higher learning - impressing the judging panel with their inspiring display of strength, courage and resilience in overcoming a variety of physical and sensory challenges, including macular dystrophy (vision impairment), hearing impairment, osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones disease) and Asperger’s syndrome. This year’s scholarship recipients include:

IDA Young Tech fest with Microsoft and Azure!

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 13:42:41 +0000

IDA Young Tech Fest is an annual 2-day festival featuring exhibitions and social events in celebration of all technological things. With all things technological there, and roughly 7 educational institutes showcasing their technological innovations, it was a sight to behold! [caption id=“attachment_21138” align=“aligncenter” width=“3240”] What awaits us beyond those doors?[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_21139” align=“aligncenter” width=“3240”] The many chairs awaiting their prospective owners[/caption] Over 2000 attendees participated in the Young Tech Fest to learn more about technology and how to shape the future. From tinkering with wearable tech and robotics, to taking a trip down Singapore’s tech evolution, the participants were engaged in all things technological. Microsoft was there on-site to showcase the technologies available and to encourage students to start their very first web blog using Microsoft Azure. I was also there helping out with curious students. [caption id=“attachment_21140” align=“aligncenter” width=“3240”] Our friendly Student helpers helping out with the booth[/caption] Halley, Shi Qin and Ling Hui were on-site to help out with any queries from the general public as well as activating their student benefits. Students can learn more about how to go about activating their benefits at Funpack if they missed it during the event. Within the funpack that Microsoft is offering, I would like to specially highlight the DreamSpark and Azure offerings in which Microsoft offers free software and the cloud platform to students to help with their learning process. To activate your free offerings, first proceed to Step One and log in using your Microsoft email account. After verifying your student status, proceed to Step Two to verify your phone number via OTP. [caption id=“attachment_21143” align=“alignnone” width=“3240”] Chatting with a student regarding Azure[/caption] I had lots of fun discussing and chatting about Azure with like-minded students who were all passionate about IT just like me! [caption id=“attachment_21141” align=“aligncenter” width=“3240”] Shi Qin helping out with our Kodu Workshop[/caption] Microsoft also held workshops teaching students how to code up a simple game using Kodu. Our friendly helpers were also on-site to help out with those who needed guidance. [caption id=“attachment_21142” align=“aligncenter” width=“3240”] Halley teaching students about Kodu Game Lab[/caption] There were also workshops held to teach participants about how to host a simple resume website using Azure. Here, we have Terence, who is our Technological Evangelist, teaching participants how to set up the resume website. Many people were at Microsoft booth to learn more about Azure or were they? :) [caption id=“attachment_21147” align=“aligncenter” width=“3240”] Crowds at the Microsoft booth[/caption] Younger students who were in for something fun found a Xbox One loaded with Halo waiting for them! [caption id=“attachment_21146” align=“aligncenter” width=“3240”] Halo on Xbox One[/caption] Finally we ended the day with a group picture of our entire team who worked hard for these 2 days! [caption id=“attachment_21149” align=“aligncenter” width=“3240”] Group shot[/caption]

Interview with Map Master - Fiftri Permono

Sun, 13 Sep 2015 06:13:10 +0000

Interview with Map Master – Fiftri Permono Let’s get close and personal with Fiftri – our interviewee for today! Visit him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fiftri.permono?fref=ts -———————————————————————————————————————————————— HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Fiftri: I am an undergraduate majoring in Land Resources Management at the General Soedirman University (UNSOED), Purwokerto, Central Java. Currently, I am an intern and working in Indonesia’s National Institute of Aeronautics and Space. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Fiftri: I help to develop UNSOED Map Creator Club along with my friends and my efforts were recognized by the HERE Community team who nominated and awarded me the Map Master title. HERE: Do you have any suggestion or tip for wannabe-Map Masters or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Fiftri: Infuse every activity with joy and fun as this also a good opportunity and meaningful exposure for us to enrich our portfolio. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Fiftri: I was introduced to HERE Map by one of my campus’s alumni who is currently working in HERE. He shared with me his interesting job on building a map and that was what inspired me to join the program. HERE: Do you participate in other mapping/community activities outside of the HERE Expert Community Program? If yes, please elaborate? Fiftri: I used to join KOMPASS (UNSOED’s community of mapping practitioner and surveyor), but currently the organization is inactive, so I decided to join the HERE Expert Community Program to fulfill my passion. HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Fiftri: All the members in the HERE team. HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Fiftri: The most exciting experience I had was when I participated in the HERE Tour de Java program, a railroad-collecting activity throughout Java Island. Collecting the data in the field in a train was a unique experience and our mapping skills and knowledge were put to the test. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Fiftri: We should try to hold regular gatherings and ongoing communication to build and foster this HERE-Map Master & community relationship. HERE: Final words/your motto as a Map Master? Fiftri: Travelling around Indonesia is interesting and I get to learn about the different cultures from various regions. -———————————————————————————————————————————————— Thanks Fiftri for your contributions to the community challenges and hope you find joy and happiness in all your mapping activities. Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Team

The Microsoft Cloud Roadshow Coming Up!

Sun, 06 Sep 2015 14:45:55 +0000

The Microsoft Cloud Roadshow is a free, two-day technical training event for IT professionals and developers that provides best practices and insights directly from the experts who build and run the cloud services across Office 365, Microsoft Azure, Windows 10 and more! Choose from over 80 technical training sessions covering:

Productivity
Security
Networking
Big data
Storage
Unified communications
Identity
Web
Mobile
Collaboration
Hybrid Cloud
Containers
Devops
Open source
Management

SharePoint Online 2013 vs. SharePoint 2013 On-Premise

Sun, 30 Aug 2015 05:39:29 +0000

This short articles show you all the features that is meant for SharePoint On-Premise.

When you reach this page https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj819267.aspx then you will find the article comparing SharePoint Online Edition and SharePoint On-Premise Edition separately. Somehow the features it compares are the same.

I extracted out what is in On-Premise but not in SharePoint Online as the table below.

Development Features

SharePoint Online

SharePoint On-Premise

BCS: Profile Pages

Yes

BCS: Rich Client Integration

Hello Cloud Challenge for Students

Sat, 29 Aug 2015 04:59:34 +0000

Calling all students!

Stand a chance to win $1,000 every month (in just a few clicks)!

Microsoft has launched a new contest for all students called the Hello Cloud Challenge to get students coding on Microsoft Azure. The competition is open to students above 16 years old. Be sure to check out the competition site and the official rules! If you’re a student and wishes to take part in the challenge, here are the steps:

Interview with Map Master - Worawut Khantee

Sat, 29 Aug 2015 03:19:00 +0000

Interview with Map Master – Worawut Khantee Let’s get close and personal with Worawut – our interviewee for today! Visit him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RodKren ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Worawut: My name is Worawut Khantee. I am a fresh graduate from the Faculty of Public Health Mahidol University and did my majors in Health Education and Behavior Science. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Worawut: I have been part of the HERE Expert Community in Thailand, helping out with map edits, finding and adding new places and ensuring the data entered was accurate. It came as a surprise to me when I received the Map Master title from HERE and it was good to know that I belong to the pioneer batch of Map Masters. HERE: Do you have any suggestions or tips for wannabe-Map Masters or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Worawut: Be willing to learn and seek improvement every now and then and keep yourself updated with any special map activity news regularly. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Worawut: I am a Nokia Lumia user and also a member of the Nokia Lumia club. I chanced upon an announcement to participate in some mapping activities organized by HERE Thailand and being a HERE Map user, I knew that the areas around my vicinity were lacking in those roads and places information. So, I joined the HERE Expert Community in Thailand and the first thing I did was to help update the roads around my University. HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Worawut: I enjoyed the interaction and exchange of ideas among the HERE Expert Community Team and community members as such information exchange can help us see the bigger picture and even resolve issues in the HERE Map Creator**.** HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Worawut: Being able to meet new people from all walks of life around the globe and having a well-connected network that brings people and events together. I love the fact that we are a close knitted community. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Worawut: Let’s aim to develop some tools that are easier to use for the community. HERE: Final words/Your Motto as a Map Master Worawut: We might not be well-known for now, but one thing is for sure that we are developing HERE Maps which is the world’s best map for the goodness of mankind! -—————————————————————————————————————————————————————- Worawut, very well said on your motto and thanks for your passion for HERE Maps and your wonderful contributions. Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Team

Indonesia Local Chapter Program Garners Interest from Vocational Schools

Sat, 29 Aug 2015 03:16:53 +0000

Map Master Local Chapter Ever since the Map Master Local Chapter program in Indonesia kicked off in May 2015, the HERE Indonesia Community Team has seen significant contribution from each local chapter month after month. In just over a period of 3 months, the local chapters have grown from 6 cities to the current 10 with majority of the cities emerging from Aceh (the northwestern city of Indonesia) and Lombok island. This, in addition to the local flash mob campaigns they have rolled out, it is therefore not surprising that the HERE Indonesia Community team has received many requests from groups, organizations and institutions to be part of the local chapter. Goals of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)

We Came, We Collected, We Conquered - The Giant POI Market

Sat, 29 Aug 2015 03:16:15 +0000

The “Brother Land” Story

Located in the heart of Jakarta, Pasar Tanah Abang (Brother Land Market) is the biggest Textile Market and Fashion Retail in South East Asia. Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta has been around since 1735 and has an international reputation as a wholesale center for textiles, clothes, shoes and batik, to mention just a few examples.

Thousands of wholesalers open their outlets here as the location is also close to the Indonesia central business, Jakarta Golden Triangle, Sudirman-Thamrin-Rasuna Said, accessible from any direction inside of Jakarta.

SG Walkabout - Twitter

Mon, 24 Aug 2015 15:00:18 +0000

The SG Walkabout is an annual open house for technology companies in Singapore, where one gets the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the most innovative companies in Singapore. I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to check out Twitter’s new Asia Pacific headquarters office here in Singapore. As part of the There were a series of talks, ranging from what they do in Twitter, their culture, interesting facts such as “why only 140 characters?”, as well as their Periscope app. Best of all, we had the rare opportunity to tour the office, and to check out their awesome working space. The office was created with heavy influences of Singaporean culture and design, and definitely not to mention - Birds! Be sure to check out some of the photos below! [caption id=“Welcome” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]The Twitter Auditorium[/caption] [caption id=“Pantry” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]The awesome wall design at the pantry[/caption] [caption id=“Bird” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]The Twitter Bird on the World Map[/caption] [caption id=“Characters” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]Why 140 characters? Any guesses?[/caption] [caption id=“Ceiling” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]Check out the ceiling! More birds, more luck![/caption] [caption id=“Room” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]Even the rooms are named after birds![/caption] [caption id=“Analytics” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]The real-time data analytics lab[/caption] Speaking of Twitter, did you know that based on this Twitter map, Visual Studio is used worldwide by millions of developers :) Be sure to grab your free copy today!

Interview with Map Master - Mochamad Yasin

Mon, 24 Aug 2015 14:18:47 +0000

Interview with Map Master – Mochamad Yasin Let’s get close and personal with Yasin – our interviewee for today! Visit him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mochamad.yasin.75?fref=ts ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Yasin: I live in Surabaya and am a freelancer. Previously, I have worked as a programmer, helping to develop web applications for campus utility. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Yasin: I have always enjoyed the community challenges organized by the HERE Expert Community Program. I received the Map Master title after the house hunter challenge organized by HERE Indonesia and was ranked among the top 10. For every challenge, I always aim to provide the most accurate and valid data. HERE: Do you have any suggestion or tip for wannabe-Map Masters or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Yasin: Keep following the community challenges and do it with pleasure. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Yasin: I knew about HERE Map from my device Lumia 520 which was my first windows phone device. My first contribution was for the first community challenge organized by the HERE Expert Community Program Indonesia. HERE: Do you participate in other mapping/community activities outside of the HERE Expert Community Program? If yes, please elaborate? Yasin: No. In my knowledge, the HERE Expert Community Program is the only community for mapping in Indonesia HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Yasin: I must say I am impressed with Cipto Tri who happened to be the pioneer batch of Map Masters as his contribution is the highest. HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Yasin: My best experience so far was using the web version of Map Creator. That is one of the best free web based GIS tool as I ever known. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Yasin: I would like to see an updated map of Indonesia in Map Creator and not pixelated images. HERE: Final words/your motto as a Map Master? Yasin: Keep mapping with pleasure! ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- Thanks Yasin for your contributions to the community challenges. And yes, keep mapping with pleasure! Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Team

Channel NewsAsia Perspectives - Schools in the Cloud? Globalizasion, Innovation and the Future of Learning

Mon, 17 Aug 2015 15:43:53 +0000

Channel NewsAsia’s Perspectives presents a panel of distinguished experts and leading thinkers from Singapore, Asia and beyond who gather on a weekly basis to dissect current events. This afternoon, I attended the discussion for Episode 8, which is titled “Schools in the Cloud? Globalizasion, Innovation and the Future of Learning”. The panel comprises of Prof Tan Eng Chye, Deputy President of Academic Affairs and Provost of NUS, David Edwards, Head of Education, GEMS World Academy (Singapore), Richard Yen, Founder and Managing Director, Ednovation and Stephanie Hung, Senior Director, Public Sector Group, Microsoft Singapore. The panel discussed the impact of technology on the future of learning and what the future of education will be like. This is given the belief that an increasing focus on technology and online teaching will make it more difficult for students to form meaningful social networks and human interaction will diminish. The panelists shared interesting insights, ranging from the history of how technology has impact learning since the 90s, and also how computers might end up competing against humans. The discussion started off having Prof Tan sharing about how online Content Management Systems (CMS) was first introduced in schools, and also how blended learning, where part of instructors were migrated online and another part face-to-face, became prevalent. Stephanie also shared her views on how Microsoft software has shaped the new-age education. Software such as Skype help bridge gaps in education across borders in classrooms. Indeed, some courses that I have taken in Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) allow me to collaborate with partner universities and students from other countries from around the world. Office 365 for Education and OneNote helps facilitate content creation and collaboration between teachers and students, and establish an immediate feedback loop to harness the collective wisdom of the class. Stephanie also talked about the importance of building a capability on computational thinking, which is a thought process that allows one to break down problems and formulate solutions in a systematic approach, pretty much like how computers “think”. She mentioned that while computers can solve many problems, it is important to understand the limitations of computers, so that we humans can value add. This point reminded me of a vision shared by one of my CMU professors, Luis von Ahn, who aims to combine humans and computers to solve large-scale problems that neither can solve alone. According to an interview on Bigthink.com, Luis shared that “There are problems that computers cannot yet solve. It’s funny because some of these problems are very simple problems seemingly. For example, a computer cannot tell you what’s inside an image. They can tell you somethings but it can’t really quite tell you there’s a cat next to a dog and they’re both running. A computer can’t do that. Well humans, we can do it super easily.” Ultimately, he invented reCAPTCHA, which is a tool that determines if someone trying to obtain access is actually human and not a computer, and at the same time, helps digitise books! Richard connected with the audience as he shared his personal anecdote about his 4-year-old son, who actually learns about dinosaurs on his own using online resources. He brought up an important point to share that it is important for our educators to use creative methods to ignite the passion of students so that they would be inspired to learn. After all, the traditional method of learning from textbooks in the past is obsolete; with the Internet, resources are easily available online. Prof Tan also shared that automation is replacing people, thus it is important for students and educators to keep up with the times as we move up the value chain. David brought up an engaging discussion about how teachers and environment can affect and facilitate different types of learning. For instance, a good teacher knows how to make use of technology generate interest and gather feedback to facilitate learning. On the contrary, it may not be productive should an educator simply throws a student an iPad and expects the student to learn from course wares. Personally, I feel that a good educator should be able to use data analytics technology to easily identify their students’ strengths and weaknesses, and assign assignments based on areas they need more practice in. The audience also had the opportunity to ask questions and challenge the panelists with difficult questions. Some questions brought up revolved around character development, the number of women pursuing STEM in education, how to find the right balance between the use of technology. On top of these really great questions, there was a heated debate about the reasons of the rising cost of education. The panelists answered the questions really well, and provided many insights from different perspectives. Be sure to tune in to the episode on Channel NewsAsia on the 2 Sept 2015 (Tues) at 8pm. Fun Challenge: Try spotting me in the audience and identify the colour of my shirt! The first reader that drops me an email with the correct answer wins a prize :)

This workbook contains links to one or more external sources that could be unsafe

Mon, 17 Aug 2015 14:27:49 +0000

This short article shows you how to resolve the error “This workbook contains links to one or more external sources that could be unsafe.” which may keep popping up when you are opening the Excel workbook. I have been researching for a bit but I do not seem to find a build-in Excel solution for that. Alternatively, I managed to find Findlink http://www.manville.org.uk/software/findlink.htm Excel Add-ins. There is a file you will find findlink.xla. Open the file with the error. Go to File -> Add-Ins. Under Manage: choose Excel Add-ins then click Go. Browse to your findlink.xla then click OK. Up to this point you will be panicking as you may not find anything in your Spreadsheet Ribbon after selecting the add-ins. To resolve this, do not close the Excel spreadsheet, but instead double click on the findlink.xla file. This is how it looks. Now you can find your broken links. :)

Imagine Cup 2015 World Finals – Part II

Mon, 10 Aug 2015 01:13:57 +0000

This post continues from Imagine Cup 2015 World Finals - Part I

Day 3 - Wednesday, July 29

This was definitely an intense and pressurizing day for our competitors and students. Team Mozter shared with me that they were extremely nervous the night before, and they had trouble sleeping due to the excitement. With months of hard work, the students are finally down to judgement day. After travelling thousands of miles, team Mozter representing Singapore, alongside 32 other teams, was ready to give it their best shot! Upon arrival at the Microsoft campus where judging took place, mentors and even Microsoft staffs like myself could feel intensity of the heat from the competition as teams were either seen scurrying to their own corners rehearsing their pitches, tweaking presentation slides, or interviewing with the official Imagine Cup crew. [caption id=“Teams Interview” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]Imagine Cup crew interviewing Team Thief from China[/caption] Different time slots were assigned to each team for their presentation throughout the day, and Mozter was given an early 9am slot. Teams were briefed that they will be given a 10-minute slot to set up their equipment, and another 10 minutes to present their solutions to the judges. [caption id=“Briefing” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]Imagine Cup crew briefing Mozter before their presentations[/caption] [caption id=“Set up” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]Mozter was given 10 minutes to set up their presentations[/caption] [caption id=“Presentation” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]Team member Kirk at the actual presentation[/caption] Right after the presentations, teams were not given the opportunity to lay their hairs down and relax, as there was still the hands-on judging sessions. During the session, judges go round the different showcase booths set up by the teams, where they had the opportunity to interact with the team’s apps in real-time, ask questions and provide feedback, up to 10 minutes per team. Apart from their presentation earlier, this session was extremely important, as it could affect the judge’s impression of their work, and had a direct impact on their scores. [caption id=“Hands-on Judging” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]Team Mozter ready for their hands-on judging[/caption] I suppose it was fortunate for Mozter to be given an early slot, as that would allow us to relax for the rest of the day. Apart from resume 101 sessions, where Microsoft staff provide our students with feedback regarding their resumes, teams also had the free rein to check out other team’s presentations, roam around the Microsoft Redmond Campus, visit the Company Store, or to attend Microsoft’s OneWeek, a weeklong celebration of Microsoft people, products and ideas. [caption id=“oneweek” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”]The Microsoft //oneweek Expo[/caption]

Intel Presents Invent50: An Engineering Competition for Students

Fri, 07 Aug 2015 17:46:56 +0000

It definitely wouldn’t be news to hear that Singapore is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this weekend. But hey, we’re not the only ones turning 50 this eventful twenty-fifteen. Intel’s co-founder Gordon Moore’s observation in 1965, popularly referred to as Moore’s Law, reinvented the playing field and became a springboard for innovation for the electronics industry. In conjunction with the celebration of this insight, Intel Singapore has launched an empowering competition designed to bring out the best in our Little Red Dot’s youth. Calling out to innovators aged 18-34 pursuing their Diploma, Bachelor, Master, or Ph.D. degrees full time in an MOE-recognised institution, Intel wants your ideas for a smarter Singapore to be heard. If that doesn’t rev up your thinking caps, they’ve thrown in a grand prize of S$10,000 for the team, a laptop featuring Intel® RealSenseTM 3D Camera plus an Intel® internship opportunity for each member. Invent50 tests the youngest and brightest to dig deep into who Singapore is, as a community, and use their innovative minds to practically solve today’s challenges. Focus areas may include but are not bounded to: Smart Nation, Home, Mobility and/or Health. The registration phase of Invent50 is already ongoing, giving students till the 4th of September to submit their new or value-added solutions in teams of three to four. After which, teams of here about a total of 50 students will be mentored by Intel engineers to transform their ideas into practical prototypes in a 2-day bootcamp followed by a 10-week mentorship programme. From a panel of judges comprising of industry experts and partners, three winners will be selected on the feasibilty and innovativeness of their prototype designs. Teams interested in signing up or just to find out more about this exciting opportunity can log on to the Intel Invent50 website. If you need ideas or some inspiration to get your gears going, check out this inspiring example of Project Daniel - an amazing story of how using the technology already present can improve someone’s life or improve a community’s wellbeing. “Through this competition, we want to showcase how world-changing innovation doesn’t need to come from large corporations,” said Mr. Sumner Lemon, Country Manager, Intel Malaysia and Singapore. “We have a long history of helping develop the next generation of innovators and we are extremely excited to launch this competition at a time when local students are becoming more aware of how technology is lowering the barriers to innovation.” The ball is now on our courts. Shine bright, guys!

Map Masters | Welcome to the July 2015 Award Cycle (Finale)

Fri, 07 Aug 2015 17:31:33 +0000

Welcome to the finale of our ‘Map Masters | Welcome to the July 2015 Award Cycle’ blog series. This is the finale of our Map Masters spotlight and wrapping up the July award cycle, we are proud to feature our Philippines Map Masters! ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————– PATRICK TORRES | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry Patrick Torres is a second year renewal Map Master. A Software QA tester at Wizardsgroup, he loves to travel and thanks HERE for making it possible for him to go through places without the fear of getting lost. Shared Patrick, “It has been a blessing to be named as one of HERE’s Map Master let alone be renewed for the second year. I’ll definitely participate and contribute more in the upcoming activities of HERE. I’d love to see everyone utilize the power of HERE maps in the future" Very well said Patrick and congratulations on another year of renewal! ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- DANILO TUAZON | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry Danilo Tuazon is a Senior Administrative Assistant working in the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) of Balanga City Hall in Balanga, Bataan. He was able to provide significant map updates in his locality and as Map Master for the 2nd year in Philippines Expert Community, he is able to contribute more and is looked upon as a HERE ambassador to his colleagues. Congratulations Danilo on another year of renewal! ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- CHRISTIAN MOSCOSA | Contributions: Point of Interest, Point Address, Road Geometry A second year Map Master, Christian Moscosa hails from Cavite and is a Consultant for Wizardsgroup. Christian loves the way HERE connects people from all walks of life. ‘It’s a great privilege to be one of the HERE Map Master and sharing HERE with my colleagues and friends is a passion I have." Congratulations on your second year of renewal, Christian and we look forward to your amazing contributions!! ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- A great thanks from the HERE Expert Community Program family to all SEA HERE Map Masters amazing contributions! Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Program Team

Windows 10 Group Policy Settings

Fri, 07 Aug 2015 17:31:05 +0000

Windows 10 is great! As a typical Windows administrator, you might ask so what is new in the Group Policy? Well all the group policy is well documented at the link below: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=25250 Download the file by selecting Window 10 ADMX spreadsheet. Open up the file, you can filter all the new to Windows 10 group policy through the last column

Here are three questions that came up quite a lot

DISABLE Cortana in Windows 10, via GPO or Regedit This is possible by editing below registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search!AllowCortana This policy setting specifies whether Cortana is allowed on the device. If you enable or don’t configure this setting Cortana will be allowed on the device. If you disable this setting Cortana will be turned off. When Cortana is off users will still be able to use search to find things on the device and on the Internet. DISABLE Windows Update Delivery Optimization (WUDO) in Windows 10 This is possible by editing below registry key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\DeliveryOptimization!DODownloadMode Set this policy to configure the use of Windows Update Delivery Optimization in downloads of Windows Apps and Updates. Available mode are: 0=disable 1=peers on same NAT only 2=Local Network / Private Peering (PCs in the same domain by default) 3= Internet Peering DISABLE WiFi-Sense in Windows 10 There is no GPO for this. Some organizations want to turn this option off as they may see this as a risk to corporate Wi-Fi. An enterprise can disable in the following ways:

The Hackathon @ SG 2015 – My Experience

Thu, 06 Aug 2015 02:42:13 +0000

Introduction.

Touted as “Singapore’s biggest hackathon ever”, the Hackathon @ SG 2015 was an intense 24-hour coding competition held at ITE College Central between 25 and 26 July. Luckily enough for me, I was able to live through it and tell the tale of what an amazing time I had! The theme for the competition was “Towards a smart nation” (i.e. to contribute towards the SG50 Smart Nation initiative) and we were given 6 challenges to be addressed on the day itself. These were:

Here Comes the Win2D: Image Effects

Mon, 03 Aug 2015 07:19:34 +0000

Last month, during our monthly .NET Developer Singapore Community meetup, our friend Riza from Microsoft shared with us a very cool API, Win2D. Win2D is an open-source API announced by Microsoft last year which helps developers bring hardware accelerated Direct2D graphics to Windows 8.1 (and 10) Universal Apps. This API certainly excites developers, especially game developers who are not very familiar with Direct2D but would like to do 2D immediate mode rendering in C#. After the meetup, I have tried playing with some of the basic features in Win2D. I did a simple app which will keep adding colourful circles moving around on the Surface screen. After a few weeks, I read an article online about image effects on Win2D. Hence, I decided to try it as well. My Taiwan Trip and Image Processing I just came back from my first trip to Taipei. So I would like to use some of my photos taken in the journey to show how Win2D can be used to do interesting image effects. Now, let’s start with a photo that I took outside the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. [caption id=“attachment_20740” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”] Taiwan National Concert Hall[/caption] There are plenty of effects available in the Microsoft.Graphics.Canvas.Effects namespace. I will just do a few of them as a demonstration of image effects in Win2D. Gaussian Blur Effect I will start with one of the simplest effect, the Gaussian Blur. For those who are new to Gaussian Blur, it is a result of blurring an image using the Gaussian function. The new value of each pixel in the image is a weighted average of neighbour pixels of the pixel. Hence, Gaussian Blur is able to produce a blur that preserve edges and uniform blurring filters. In Win2D, Gaussian Blur effect has a property called BlurAmount. It is actually the Standard Deviation of the Gaussian function, as shown in the Settings.xml.

The successful launch of Windows 10

Mon, 03 Aug 2015 06:44:18 +0000

To the 1.5 billion users of Windows out there, the day you have been eagerly and impatiently waiting for has finally arrived. After more than 2 years 8 months release on Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft was proud to have the official launch of Windows 10 on 29th July 2015. As a MSP, I was fortunate enough to be a part of this celebration event where enthusiasts such as Microsoft employees, MSP and Windows insiders were all present. Words can’t describe how amazing this launch was so I will use pictures instead as ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’. In short, it was a wonderful evening led by enthusiasts showcasing how Windows 10 can be used at home, work and school. Famous celebrities had come to express their excitement on Windows 10 including Singaporean hip hop artist Shigga Shay and football brothers Irfan Fandi and Ikhsan Fandi. It was an evening filled with fun, excitement, tech enthusiasts, food, drinks, and in one word: Windows10 [caption id=“Cortana” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] Microsoft employee explaining the use of Windows 10 for work purposes including the use of Cortana for daily reminders [/caption] [caption id=“Windows10” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] We are super excited with the launch of Windows 10. [/caption] [caption id=“Hello” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] Introducing Windows Hello, a more personal and secure way to log in [/caption] [caption id=“Edge” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] Introducing Microsoft Edge, the new windows 10 browser [/caption] [caption id=“MSP” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] All MSP’s taking a picture with the slogan ‘I love Windows’. [/caption] Did you already upgrade your devices to Windows 10? Here are my personal top 4 reasons why Windows just got cooler and you shouldn’t miss out of the opportunity of upgrading your devices. 1) Microsoft Cortana: Cortana was already introduced in phones but now it is coming on PC. Cortana is a personalized virtual assistant, which has been named for Master Chief’s Al companion in the Halo video game. As soon as the user comes to the start screen, the female assistant will then offer suggestions based on the location of the user. For example, if you want to find the nearest restaurant from your current location, set reminders or even schedule appointments you can do so just with a simple click. Cortana gets most of the information from the database of users so if more people use it, the more accurate the answer will be. One extremely cool feature of Cortana is the Cortana Notebook, which is located in the voice app setting menu and acts like a personal diary. Through this, the users can set interests, see the places visited the most and also set quiet hours when you are having a meeting and don’t want to be disturbed. Also, based on your interest and previous searches, Cortana will give suggestions for locations, weather and other useful information that Cortana thinks you might like. 2) Xbox app and gaming features: Windows 10 introduces an Xbox app where users can find out more about their gaming statistics, message their friends and also play the Xbox games without using their TV! Did you also know that there will be a cross platform gaming which will enable PC and Xbox players to play together. 3) Windows Hello: Windows Hello is a bio metric authentication, which enables you access your device using your fingerprint, face scan or iris without using a password so that you can feel more secure. After you log in, you can see your applications and online content without requiring your password through Microsoft passport. Microsoft passport helps to protect user credentials as well as provide user convenience so that you can access resources anytime and anywhere. The video below gives more details. https://youtu.be/1AsoSnOmhvU 4) Microsoft Edge: previously known as Project Spartan, Microsoft Edge is the new search engine with many exciting features. While you are browsing the web, Cortana pops up with additional information, which will help you in your search results. For example, if you are looking at a university’s website, it will show directions to get there. Moreover, there is a reading view feature, which allows you to put up articles in the reading list app for you to review it again later. Did I mention that you could upgrade your devices to Windows 10 for FREE? Upgrade your devices now and recommend your friends to do so too so the world could become more windows 10 tech driven References: 1) http://www.trustedreviews.com/opinions/windows-10-vs-windows-8-1 2) Video link: https://youtu.be/1AsoSnOmhvU

Windows 10 Singapore Launch Party

Thu, 30 Jul 2015 06:08:15 +0000

29th July 2015 marks the official launch of Windows 10, the much-anticipated new release of Windows with features such as the long-awaited return of the Start menu, Cortana (intelligent personal assistant), Edge browser, Virtual Desktops, and Action Center. To celebrate the world-wide product launch, Singapore held a glitzy party at 72-13 (former Theatre Works) for guests and media partners. Being a long time fan and user of Windows, I knew that I had to attend the launch and capture the event to share with the community. Besides being pampered with an endless supply of food and drinks, guests were also treated to an array of product presentations and demonstrations that allowed them to experience Windows 10 up close and personal. The party also featured distinguished guests including Fandi Ahmad’s sons, Irfan Fandi and Ikhsan Fandi, Tammy Tang (international gamer, “Furryfish”), and JianHao Tan (YouTube celebrity). Renowned rapper, ShiGGa Shay, and DJ Nicole Chen were also present to liven up the party with their electrifying music. To round off an amazing night, three Windows machines (HP Spector x360, Surface 3, and Surface Pro 3) were raffled as lucky draw prizes to the audience. I would like to extend a special thanks to Microsoft Singapore for the invite, and the hard work and dedication of the Microsoft Team that helped to make the launch a huge success. What do you think of the new Windows 10 and its product launch? Do you have other great events and conferences that you’d like us to cover? Do share with us your experiences and recommendations in the comments below.

Imagine Cup 2015 World Finals - Part I

Wed, 29 Jul 2015 08:05:55 +0000

It has been 2 days since the start of the Imagine Cup 2015 week, and things are starting to heat up around here. In case you’re not yet aware, the Imagine Cup is the world’s most premier IT competition for students. From over 2000 teams who joined the Imagine Cup competition back in September last year, to the 150 teams in the World Semifinals, down to 33 World Finalists to compete for the Imagine Cup. Team Mozter, from Temasek Polytechnic, will be representing Singapore as one of the 33 World Finalists.

Map Masters | Welcome to the July 2015 Award Cycle (Part III)

Mon, 27 Jul 2015 04:30:23 +0000

Welcome to Part III of our ‘Map Masters | Welcome to the July 2015 Award Cycle’ blog series. Today, we are shining spotlight on our Thailand Map Masters!] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

PAILIN SINGKAEWYOT | Contributions: Point of Interest, Road Geometry

Thailand Map Master Pailin Singkaewyot is a nursing student. She heard about the HERE Expert Community Program from another Map Master and was keen to learn more about this program. Pailin is a fast learner and has since mastered the skills of using Map Creator to input point of interest. She was ranked 3rd in the HERE Thailand community with a great amount of input for point of interest.

Hands-on Experience with the Microsoft HoloLens @ Build 2015

Sun, 26 Jul 2015 20:37:03 +0000

This comes a little late, especially with a bunch of lucky people getting to play with the HoloLens and an awesome Halo model at E3, where the HoloLens apparently had a few changes since I last tried it. Regardless, let me regale you with the tale of my experience with this fantasy-become-reality wearable at the Build 2015 Developer Conference in San Francisco on the 29th of April.

Registration

Microsoft announced they were accepting sign-ups for people to try out the HoloLens right after the opening Keynote (they started by saying they brought down a 100 sets, imagine the emotional ride as we realized we weren’t going to be able to bring one home). There were 3 categories available for sign-up – One-to-One Demo, Media Presentation, and Holographic Academy Training. With the link out to register, the people around us whipped out their phones to book their slot. Rong Kang and I had our laptops out, being in a conference call with our awesome colleagues back home. Registration for us was fast and easy, and we noticed that people were having trouble registering – the last step of the form (selecting your category) wasn’t working on some mobile devices! We ended up on the first batch of attendees to be on the One-to-One Demo, a 30-minute session with the HoloLens from 12:30pm to 1:00pm at the Intercontinental Hotel next to the Moscone Center.

Map Masters | Welcome to the July 2015 Award Cycle (Part II)

Fri, 24 Jul 2015 04:30:22 +0000

In Part I of our ‘Map Masters | Welcome to the July 2015 Award Cycle’ blog, we were thrilled to feature our Indonesia Map Masters. Today, we are excited to recognize the following Malaysia Map Masters for their remarkable contributions to the HERE Expert Community! ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

MEGAT NAJIB | Contributions: Road Geometry, Point of Interest

A final year Geomatic student at UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor, Megat Najib first got to know about the Map Creator during the HERE roadshow to UiTM Shah Alam on November 2014. He was impressed with how little local knowledge can be shared to help other and provide accurate navigation experiences.

Startup Feature: Grezzy Founder, Oliver Duric

Thu, 23 Jul 2015 23:00:19 +0000

In this instalment of our Startup Feature series, we speak with Oliver Duric from Grezzy, one of our BizSpark startups. Grezzy is a software platform in the health and fitness space that connects people, tracks activities, motivates to be active and compete with the goal of living healthy. Grezzy has also recently moved into Microsoft’s office premise at One Marina Boulevard, as part of the BizSpark Residency program. For those who are curious to find out more about BizSpark Residency following the recent news releases (like this and this), read on! [caption id=“attachment_20630” align=“alignnone” width=“769”] Oliver Duric from Grezzy, seated at his co-working space in Microsoft Innovation Centre[/caption]

Map Masters | Welcome to the July 2015 Award Cycle (Part I)

Wed, 22 Jul 2015 04:30:45 +0000

On July 1st, 2015, 28 exemplary community leaders around Southeast Asia were notified that they have received the Map Master title. The HERE Expert Community Program was established in June 2014 and recognizes exceptional HERE Map advocates who actively play a vital role in the map-making process, adoption and advancement of the map creation technology—and in helping HERE Map to creating a truly global map so that you will feel like a local, wherever you are. Not only do we have 18 brand new additions, we also have 10 re-rewarded Map Masters who will hold the Map Master title for another year. Congratulations on being inducted into the HERE Expert Community Program for the 2015 July award cycle. The caliber of your mapping contribution work is exceptional, and will have a major impact in scaling HERE to greater heights in the year ahead. Your achievements are a source of pride and inspiration to all of us. In this first series of Map Master Spotlights, we are featuring the Indonesia Map Masters! —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Interview with Map Master - Luqman Hakim

Mon, 20 Jul 2015 04:30:16 +0000

Interview with Map Master – Luqman Hakim Happy Monday and welcome to another interview with a Map Master. It is my pleasure to introduce Luqman Hakim, also known as Lucky or ‘The Map Jockey’ to many of his friends. Visit him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luckyhackymjecks?fref=ts ——————————————————————————————————————————————————— HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Lucky: I am a student from the Geomatics Engineering at Institute Teknologi 10 November (ITS), Surabaya, East Java. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Lucky: I started out by contributing to geometries and point of interests in Map Creator. I must confessed that I am quite good at doing that as my friends have given me a nick name ‘The map jockey’. HERE: Do you have any suggestions or tips for wannabe-Map Masters or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Lucky: Always have passion in what you are doing and good things will come to you. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Lucky: I heard of the program when HERE Indonesia team visited my campus. My first contribution was on geometries and point of interest using my friend’s account. Later, I decided to create my personal account so that I can contribute on a regular basis. HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Lucky: I am impressed with the HERE Surabaya team. I used to be an intern in the HERE Surabaya office and they were very warm and taught me many things in the map-creation process. HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Lucky: The most exciting experience for me would be when I participated in a field survey in Bali with another Map Master Kemala Putri and the HERE Surabaya team. We stayed in a lovely place facing the ocean and the everyday survey activities were very fun. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Lucky: I would love to see HERE holding more University roadshows to recruit more members for the HERE Expert Community Program. HERE: Final words/Your Motto as a Map Master Lucky: HERE – Your Maps for Life! -————————————————————————————————————————————————— Thank you Lucky for the interview and contributions. Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Team

HERE Point Address & Link Challenges have officially started!

Sun, 19 Jul 2015 08:23:39 +0000

Hi Everyone, The HERE Singapore Expert Community is running 2 campaigns during the Hari Raya Puasa festive season and we would like to invite everyone to participate in the campaign and stand a chance to walk away with exclusive HERE merchandise and vouchers. So, head over to https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEREExpertCommunitySingapore/ (click ‘Join Us’) and join in the fun! Below are the 2 campaigns at a glance and how you can participate. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————- Challenge 1: And your POINT is HERE Duration: June 15th – July 31st What you need to do? Targeting new housing estates, collect as many NEW and/or EXISITING Point Address around Punggol and/or SengKang and add them on here.com/mapcreator Challenge 2: Link’EM on HERE Duration: July 15th – July 31st What you need to do? Collect any NEW and/or EXISITING Links (Roads, Walkways and Park Connectors) during the Hari Raya Puasa festive season. Users can use a GPS mobile tracker app for free and track their journey and then add them on here.com/mapcreator. At HERE, our links are categorized as Roads, Walkways and Park Connectors**.** How to participate? To register for the above challenge(s), simply email us the below details to ‘sgecpteam@here.com’

Interview with Map Master - Supattra Kumprew

Thu, 16 Jul 2015 04:30:39 +0000

Interview with Map Master – Supattra Kumprew Let’s get close and personal with Supattra – our interviewee for today! Visit her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yungying.sk?fref=ts ————————————————————————————————————————————————— HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Supattra: My name is Supattra Kumprew and my hometown is in Lampang province, located in the north of Thailand. I am a fresh graduate from the Faculty of Social Science, Chiang Mai University where I majored in Geography. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Supattra: I have an interest in online maps as I like to find new places and put them on the map. Back then, I was looking to join a HERE Map community program as I would like to see my edits and contributions appearing on the HERE Map. I have been with the HERE Expert Community Program for more than a year now and I spent my free time editing HERE Maps and was happy that I got awarded as a Map Master for my contributions. HERE: Do you have any suggestions or tips for wannabe-Map Masters or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Supattra: You need to have the 2 Ps – Passion and Patient. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Supattra: I know about HERE from one of my senior who works in HERE and who was from the same Faculty as me back in my University days. My first contribution was a road edit which was something quite easy for me to do. HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Supattra: My friends! We all shared the same passion for maps, love to edit and help put new places on the map. My friends and I are always exchanging new ideas and pushing ourselves to see how to add new places faster and more accurately. It’s like a mini competition among us which we really enjoyed and I guess the little incentives we got as part of our contribution motivated us too. HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Supattra: Exchanging new ideas among my peers. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Supattra: One improvement would be real time score tracking. HERE: Final words/Your Motto as a Map Master Supattra: Thanks to HERE for creating this community program and providing this great opportunity for anyone who is interested in maps to join. —————————————————————————————————————————————————- Thanks Supattra for your passion for HERE Maps and your wonderful contributions**.** Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Team

I am inspired by Maker Faire Singapore, are you?

Wed, 15 Jul 2015 09:48:05 +0000

Last weekend was a blast at Maker Faire Singapore, a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness, and a celebration of the Maker movement. Maker Faire began in California in 2012, and has since planted its seeds across numerous countries including US, UK, Taiwan, Japan, and in its fourth year running - Singapore. The two-day fair had more than 250 booths - more than double the number last year - spread over three floors in a former school building in Tampines. The fair not only helped to engage, connect and grow this community so that we can foster and celebrate a stronger do-it-yourself culture, but also allowed participants to participate in hands-on activities and pick up new skills at the event. Our team was down to check out the latest and coolest projects, and it was such an eye-opener! We were truly inspired by the passion and enthusiasm of these artists, hobbyists, scientists and tech enthusiasts at the fair. And we share some of the highlights below :) [caption id=“skills” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] Participants picked up skills at the Maker Faire, such as furniture making and soldering[/caption] [caption id=“enzyme-making” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] Or making enzymes from fruit waste that can be used to clean your house![/caption] [caption id=“welding-demo” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] A live welding demo by OneMakerGroup that used charcoal to heat the aluminium above 600 degree Celsius to melt and mould it[/caption] [caption id=“iot-booth” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] My friends and I also had a booth to showcase our “IoT in Smart Homes” application - a box that can be locked/unlocked remotely with a mobile app![/caption] [caption id=“intel” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] Intel had a huge showcase of their coolest projects built upon the Intel Edison board. Those 6-legged dancing robots were amazingly fun to play with[/caption] [caption id=“3d-scan” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] A 3D scanner put together by Autodesk using Raspberry Pi boards. It was interesting to inspect the “bare-bone” of this technology[/caption] [caption id=“latte-plus” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] Fancy a robot-made latte art? Robots can do creative work too![/caption] [caption id=“hammock” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] A fusion of art and technology - an electric hammock and light display[/caption] [caption id=“handicraft” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] There were also more traditional handicrafts on display. Pick up a pair of hand-made earrings for that special someone![/caption] [caption id=“strawbee” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] Strawbee kept kids really busy with… straws! Simple tools that we never knew could build such dramatic structures[/caption] [caption id=“bicycle” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] We spotted unconventional bikes by Bikes 4 Fun, whose mantra is to inspire children to reinvent and be creative[/caption] [caption id=“forum” align=“alignnone” width=“3072”] Besides booth showcase, inspiring speakers also went on stage to deliver forum presentations on various topics around the Maker movement[/caption] I have always been interested in technology and its potential to help people of all background create value in their lives. But I have not had much opportunity to witness this live. At the Maker Faire, I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the collective passion of all makers in creating something out of nothing. It was heartening and empowering. And it was an even bigger bonus for me to have made several new friends who share similar interests in making. I definitely look forward to further this Maker movement in other communities!

Spiffy.sg is recruiting!

Tue, 07 Jul 2015 06:11:27 +0000

Hi everyone! Are you a tech enthusiast and interested in writing for Spiffy.sg? Good news, as we’re recruiting new writers! To find out more, send an email to a-terlim@microsoft.com. Everyone has a point of view - from the recent flooding in Singapore to the latest scandals on social media - people are eager to share their perspectives. It establishes them as subject matter experts, expands their professional reach and gives them an opportunity to build a personal brand online.

Free Azure for Students - Create and host your first blog web app

Mon, 06 Jul 2015 05:00:13 +0000

If you’re a student at a recognized educational institute (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary), you’re eligible for Microsoft DreamSpark where you can get free development tools and software. One of the benefits is Microsoft Azure - a cloud computing platform and infrastructure for building, deploying and managing applications and services through a global network of Microsoft-managed datacenters. In this article, I’ll be walking through the steps to create your very first blog in just a few minutes, using the free Microsoft Dreamspark offerings to students. You may then use your blog to write about your daily personal encounters, or share your awesome life’s stories with your friends and families. Before we begin, be sure to activate your free Microsoft Dreamspark and Azure account for students using these instructions.

Interview with Map Master - Nattakan Chantarumporn

Sun, 28 Jun 2015 04:30:02 +0000

Interview with Map Master – Nattakan Chantarumporn Hello! Welcome to another addition/edition of our Interview with a Map Master. Today’s interview is with Nattakan Chantarumporn (also known as Khwan) Visit her on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/khwan.dev?fref=pb_other Now let’s get to the interview! ——————————————————————————————————————————————————— HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Khwan: My name is Khwan. I was born in Koh Samui and I am currently studying in Bangkok. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Khwan: I happened to saw an advertisement from Nokia Lumia’s Facebook fan page and this prompted me to register to become a Map Creator. I was very excited to be able to help create a map for HERE. HERE: Do you have any suggestion or tip for other members of the community who hope or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Khwan: Do it with love, with hope or just ask yourself what is your objective of mapping. It will motivate you reach the quality bar of a Map Master faster. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Khwan: The first map that I used was the OVI maps. That is how I got to know HERE Maps. The first contribution which made/edited was my house number! HERE: Do you participate in other mapping/community activities outside of the HERE Expert Community Program? If yes, please elaborate? Khwan: After I joined HERE Maps, I also joined Google Map as a MapMaker to see the difference between the 2 maps is. Personally, I think HERE map creator is much more flexible in terms of edits as compared to the MapMaker. HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Khwan: Map Master Ken (Worawut Khantee). He has ‘Eagle Eyes’ as he seems to be able to spot any issues on a map within a few seconds! HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Khawn: To be able to see something new that I’ve never seen before from satellite imagery and build up a good friendship from the HERE Expert Community. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Khwan: One area of improvement would be to provide better/updated imageries. HERE: Final words/Your Motto as a Map Master Khwan: I love HERE!!! ————————————————————————————————————————————————————– Thank you Khwan for your amazing contributions and yes, we love HERE! Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Program

Echelon Asia Summit 2015

Thu, 25 Jun 2015 08:56:03 +0000

Echelon Asia Summit 2015 is an annual tech conference organized by e27, a platform for tech start-up founders, businesses, investors and industry leaders in Asia’s tech industry. The summit celebrated the best of our Asian start-up scene, and took place this year from 23 - 24 June 2015 at Singapore Expo Hall 3. Over the 2 days, there was an estimated 2,500 attendees coming from start-ups, venture capitalists, corporates and the media. Echelon aims to be the focal point for Asia’s technology leaders, innovative businesses, bold investors and forward-thinking industry representatives to leverage on future trends currently shaping Asia’s internet and mobile markets, and this is also achieved through keynote sessions, workshops and panel discussions with over 70 speakers from all around the world. Delegates also had the opportunity to forge new alliances with Asia’s most noteworthy start-ups and investment players, and build long-lasting investment, trade and market-access partnerships. The different booths and showcases were grouped into a few zones around the exhibition hall, including Top 100 Start-ups, IoT Showcases and Drone Zone. Nicholas, May and I from the Microsoft Developer Experience and Evangelism team joined in the summit and here are some of the highlights! [caption id=“playme” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Augmented reality application by Playme [/caption] [caption id=“vibease” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Stay Intimate Beyond Fantasy by Vibease [/caption] [caption id=“6estates” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Real-time digital ethnography by 6Estates[/caption] [caption id=“workshop” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Enthusiastic participants during a workshop by IBM [/caption] [caption id=“workshop” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Workshop on start-up culture [/caption] [caption id=“3divi” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] 3-D computer vision by 3DiVi [/caption] [caption id=“neopop” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Light up your pet with Neo Pop [/caption] [caption id=“xbox” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Challenge your friends to a game on Xbox [/caption] [caption id=“doob” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Chill out with doob bean bags [/caption] [caption id=“dronematters” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Fly some drones with Drone Matters [/caption] [caption id=“refershments” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Recharge with some refreshments [/caption] [caption id=“qlipp” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Perfect your tennis swings with Qlipp [/caption] During the summit, we also had the opportunity to interact with some of our Microsoft BizSpark start-ups who were actively sharing their awesome ideas to the attendees. They shared about their entrepreneurship experiences thus far and also their roadmap for the subsequent journey. Their enthusiasm and passion in what they do sure inspire us a whole lot! If you have a start-up idea and would like to embark on one, be sure to check out our Microsoft BizSpark programme, where you can get up to $750 per month of FREE Azure cloud services for 3 years for up to 5 developers, and also free software and tools such as Visual Studio and Microsoft Office!

Computex 2015 Summary

Mon, 22 Jun 2015 04:30:14 +0000

Computex is among one of the largest computer and technology trade shows in the world. This is the time where all the IT companies showcase their latest technology. Since Computex Taipei 2015 just ended a few weeks ago, we shall let you know what new technology you can expect in the second half of the year.

Intel Broadwell Unfortunately Intel does not release much information about their long waited Skylake CPU. However, Intel release some devices that utilise their 5th generation Core I Broadwell CPU. It uses the 14nm process which will further reduce heat and have better power efficiency. Intel 100 Series Chipset Motherboard with LGA1151 Socket Although Intel has not release much about their sixth generation Skylake processor, motherboard manufacturers has started to release more information about their upcoming products. There are 6 types of chipset for LGA1151 Socket Motherboard H110, B150, Q150, H170, Q170, Z170. All of the chipset supports both DDR3L and DDR4 RAM, as well as GPU overclocking. However, only Z170 chipset supports CPU, GPU and RAM overclocking. SFF-8639 connector and U.2 Some of you might have read about the ultrafast Intel 750 series SSD. It is using a connector known as SFF-8639. Intel has announced that SFF-8639 will be rebranded as U.2 and it will be used for NVMe-based SSDs in the 2.5-inch form factor. Thunderbolt 3 Intel has also release their next generation of Thunderbolt connection. The new Thunderbolt 3 has once again, doubled their Thunderbolt 2’s bandwidth to an incredible 40Gbps. Not only that, the new Thunderbolt 3 will be using USB-C connector. Yes, you are right. It is the new reversible USB-C connector from USB-IF (USB-C RULE THEM ALL!). Thunderbolt 3 will deliver 4 times more performance compared to USB 3.1 and deliver connectivity across protocols such as DisplayPort and PCI Express. Thunderbolt 3 is even capable of deliver display up to two 4K 60Hz screens simultaneously or a 5K 60Hz display with just a single cable and we can still have enough bandwidth for USB and Ethernet connection (WOW :O). Since it has PCIe connectivity, we are able to have external GPU docking station attached to a laptop. Maybe we will see a Surface Pro 4 with external GPU for us to play Witcher 3 at 4K resolution?

Perfect Apps for Dads this Father's Day

Sat, 20 Jun 2015 03:09:56 +0000

Thinking of what to buy for your dad can be a tough decision. While getting the conventional tie and mug might be the easy way out, why not get a bit more creative this year and add on a sweet app package customized for your very own dad. From the busy workaholic dad, to the master chef inspired dad and even if you really think your dad could use a bit more exercise we have just the app for daddy dearest. If you have more to spare, why not throw in a new Lumia device to give him the complete Microsoft experience.

Machine Learning and Microsoft Azure

Wed, 10 Jun 2015 14:42:36 +0000

Recently, Machine Learning has become a buzz word which can be spotted on many tech-related articles and magazines. It is also one of the hottest areas for startups. However, what is Machine Learning, and why is it such a big deal? Let’s first enjoy a video showing how Machine Learning helps to improve our lives. [embed width=“800” height=“400”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGXTWLQ76jI[/embed] The elevator shown in the video is called ThyssenKrupp Elevator, a smart elevator which is able to alert technicians when to fix them. With the help of Microsoft Azure Machine Learning, the elevator is able to send data collected by sensors installed on different parts of the elevator to the cloud. Microsoft Azure Machine Learning then provides useful information that will help technicians to maintain the elevator. This elevator is cool, isn’t it? If you would like to know more about ThyssenKrupp Elevator, you can read this article to find out more about Predictive Maintenance. [caption id=“attachment_20325” align=“alignnone” width=“600”] Doli and Terence telling us cool stories about rising of the machines.[/caption] Last month, we are proud to have Doli, Big Data engineer working in Malaysia iProperty Group, to give us a good introduction to Azure Machine Learning during the Azure Community Singapore monthly meetup. The video is actually used as an example of showing how Machine Learning can help to improve our lives during the meetup.

Developing for Windows 10 Workshop by MSPs

Tue, 09 Jun 2015 13:26:58 +0000

Windows 10 is coming on July 29th and it’s time as a developer to get ready for the next generation of Windows! Look no further, the Microsoft Student Partners from Singapore Polytechnic will be holding a workshop on Developing for Windows 10.

Details

Date: 20th June 2015 (Sat) Time: 10:00am - 5:30 pm (Lunch Provided) Venue: Microsoft Auditorium, Level 21, One Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018989 (Closest MRT is Raffles Place) Open to Public, Intermediate “Level 200” Audience, Limited Slots Available!

Interview with Map Master - Nor Khadzik Khoirur Rahman

Mon, 08 Jun 2015 04:30:46 +0000

Interview with Map Master – Nor Khadzik Khoirur Rahman Welcome to another addition/edition of our Interview with a Map Master. Today’s interview is with Nor Khadzik Khoirur Rahman Visit him on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/khadzik.nor?fref=ts ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Nor: I’m Nor Khadzik Khoirur Rahman and I just graduated from the Faculty of Economics, Gadjah Mada University. I live in Jogjakarta, Indonesia, a famous city which is located near the Prambanan Temple and ruled by the Sultan. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Nor: I like to update any new changes into HERE map and I spend most of my time contributing to the HERE Map Creator. Apart from my quantity contribution, I also emphasized a lot on quality. I feel happy motivating the community members to join the community. HERE: Do you have any suggestion or tip for other members of the community who hope or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Nor: We need to be constantly aware of any new changes within our city/area and help add/update into HERE Map Creator once we confirmed our findings. One tip would be to focus on areas which has many point of interests/point addresses – industrial zones and residential areas would be a good place to start with. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Nor: I am part of the Nokians Jogja Community where we actively share the HERE Expert Community Program. Through this community, that is how I came to know about HERE Map Creator and the community program. HERE: Do you participate in other mapping/community activities outside of the HERE Expert Community Program? If yes, please elaborate? Nor: Yes. I participate in Nokians Jogja – a local community for Microsoft Phone (formerly Nokia phone). In this community, we discussed regularly the features/tips and trick about Microsoft Phones and HERE Maps is one of the most popular topics among our discussion. HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Nor: All the Map Masters! They have provided a lot of inspiration to me as they came from different background and have their own unique way in collecting information in reality. HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Nor: In January 2015, I was invited to the ‘Community Goes to HERE Event’ where we got to visit the HERE Jakarta Office. It was an exciting and eye-opener for me as I got to meet a lot of people and shared my community experiences with them. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Nor: Let’s hold more Flash Mob Campaigns on a regular basis! HERE: Final words/Your Motto as a Map Master Nor: Let’s kick start the Local Map Master Chapter activity lead by Map Masters! ————————————————————————————————————————————————————– Thank you Nor for your amazing contributions and you are a true inspiration to the HERE Expert Community! Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Program

Windows 10 Game Development Workshop with Win2D

Sun, 07 Jun 2015 10:00:26 +0000

Learn how to develop games for Windows 10 with Visual Studio 2015 and Win2D! Windows 10 brings about a myriad of new APIs for developers to explore. With Win2D being present on the Universal Windows Platform, find out how you can, using Windows 10 and Visual Studio 2015, build games for Windows 10, Windows Mobile 10, Xbox, Windows Holographic, Surface Hub and IoT! When: Saturday, 13 June 2015, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Where: Microsoft Singapore, #22-01, One Marina Boulevard Who: Young Developers, “Level 100-200” Developers Presenter: Riza Marhaban, Technical Evangelist In preparation for this event, you’ll want to be running Windows 10, either installed normally, through a VM or otherwise. You can download Windows 10 over at the Windows Insider website. You’ll also want to have Visual Studio 2015 installed, either the Community or Professional versions would work - download VS over at the Visual Studio website. Win2D is an easy-to-use Windows Runtime API for immediate mode 2D graphics rendering with GPU acceleration. It is available to C# and C++ developers writing Windows apps for Windows 8.1, Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 10. It utilizes the power of Direct2D, and integrates seamlessly with XAML and CoreWindow.

Starting with Buses – Map Master Pasawee Boonjareonsukpisan makes commuting easier and less confusing

Sun, 07 Jun 2015 04:30:27 +0000

Thailand Map Master Pasawee Boonjareonsukpisan travels regularly on the bus. Her daily journey trips are often intertwined with commuting to school, shopping trips or other services which have become an important factor in the daily urban system. In Thailand, the bus stops and bus routes are part of the Mass Transit system which provides fast and convenience services for commuters to get around.

However in Thailand, the buses don’t automatically stop at every bus stop. They stop only if someone waves them down or someone is getting off. And as the bus map location service is still unavailable in Thailand, Pasawee decided to help contribute these data for sharing purpose with the community. She feels that this will not only benefit the community, but also motivates them to want to create a HERE transit app to ease their daily commuting needs.

Interview with Map Master - Cipto Tri Utomo

Sat, 06 Jun 2015 04:30:56 +0000

Hello HERE Maps Readers/Fans, Welcome to another week of ‘Interview with a Map Master’ series. This week’s interview is with Cipto Tri Utomo. (Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/C.TRI.U?hc_location=ufi) Let’s get started with the interview! ———————————————————————————————————————————————– HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Tri: My name is Cipto Tri Utomo and I live in East Lombok, Lombok Island, Indonesia. I am working for the local government as an expert staff of East Lombok region. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Tri: I’ve been part of the HERE Expert Community since February 2014. When I started contributing in Map Creator, the map coverage in Lombok was very limited and I realized that the Map Creator tool is actually an excellent tool to help promote the potential tourist spots in Lombok. I love sharing my best practices and experience with others so that they can help promote their city/area too. All of these experiences enriched my knowledge of HERE Maps and I can look back and see the great impact and positive experiences I have shared and gained that got me here today as a Map Master. HERE: Do you have any suggestion or tip for wannabe-Map Masters or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Tri: To become a Map Master, our contributions in terms of quantity and quality have to go hand in hand. Besides that, you must be willing to share best practices and respond actively to any questions/feedback from the community are some of the desired attributes. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Tri: I am a Microsoft phone user (formerly Nokia), so I am familiar with HERE Maps. I also read the Nokianesia blog (Nokia Phone User Community in Indonesia) which regularly shares the HERE Expert Community Program. My first contribution was in the HERE Map Creator for road geometry and point of interests around Lombok Island. HERE: Do you participate in other mapping/community activities outside of the HERE Expert Community Program? If yes, please elaborate? Tri: No. Apart from joining the HERE Expert Community Program, I love painting and sketching. HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Tri: Map Master Wayan Agus Ferianto from Lampung is someone who has impressed me in this community because we shared our experiences in the community with each other regularly. HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Tri: One of the most memorable experience was attending the Map Master gathering in Jakarta, where all Map Master from Indonesia gathered together and had productive discussions om how to improve the HERE Expert Community Program. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Tri: Local activities initiated and driven by Map Masters. In this way, we can invite more people to join and participate in these local activities. HERE: Final words/your motto as a Map Master? Tri: As a Map Master, we need to be constantly aware of any changes that are taking place in our neighborhood and help to add/update the change into Map Creator so that the information is always the freshest and updated one. —————————————————————————————————————————————————— Wow! Thank you, Tri for the great tips and for all your contributions in the community. Everyone, please join me in thanking Tri! Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Program

Interview with Map Master - Lim Che Chien

Fri, 05 Jun 2015 06:00:14 +0000

Interview with Map Master – Lim Che Chien. Today we are going to interview Lim Che Chien. Che Chien was the mastermind behind the Sarawak Map Creator Competition (SMCC’14) that took place in September last year. Visit him on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lim7000?fref=ts Now let’s get to the interview! ———————————————————————————————————————————————————– HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Che Chien: My name is Lim Che Chien and I’m working as a lecturer in Politeknik Kuching Sarawak at Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia**.** HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Che Chien: Previously, I joined the Here Expert Community Program and was the second highest map contributor in Malaysia. HERE: Do you have any suggestion or tip for wannabe-Map Masters or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Che Chien: More contributions need to be done on maps especially for some areas with unclear images. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Che Chien: HERE conducted a mapping training and thereafter, I participated in the competition organized by the Here Expert Community Program**.** HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Che Chien: The team/staff from HERE Kuching impressed me with their professional skills and knowledge especially during the training sessions. Their cooperation during the Sarawak Map Creator competitions 2014 (SMCC'14) was also a contributing factor to the success of the competition. HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Che Chien: Through the knowledge and skills I’ve gained from being a Map Master, I organized the Sarawak Map Creator competitions 2014 (SMCC'14). This competition received excellent responses and participation from 25 secondary schools and 9 high schools. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Che Chien: There is a need to improve the unclear image at Sarikei, Sarawak and some rural areas in Sarawak. HERE: Final words/Your motto as a Map Master Che Chien: Mapping for all! ————————————————————————————————————————————————————– Please join me in thanking Che Chien for all his contributions! Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Program

The happenings at Build Singapore!

Tue, 02 Jun 2015 13:14:53 +0000

Microsoft’s Build Developer Conference is an annual event that introduces the latest cutting-edge products and services offered by Microsoft. This year, Build 2015 takes a twist to go on the road to promote Windows 10 app development to software creators all over the globe. And the Build Tour, which includes one-day stops at 26 cities worldwide, arrived in Singapore on May 28! [caption id=“msp_guides” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Our MSP guides getting ready for the day! [/caption] Jointly organized by the Developer Experience and Evangelism (DX) teams from Redmond and Singapore, Build Singapore attracted more than 400 technology enthusiasts, including myself, all ready to spend our day with the best Microsoft Technical Evangelists and lead engineers at Resorts World Convention Centre! The team prepared for the crowd from as early as 7am on this Thursday morning. We were joined by our Microsoft Student Partners (MSPs), and everyone was excited to bring this long-awaited event to our audience! As a starter to thank our attendees for their presence and support, we distributed exclusive Microsoft swags at registration! #goodies [caption id=“registration” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] All excited to meet the crowd and distribute our Microsoft swags! [/caption] Build Singapore kicked off at 9am, with the Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore, Jessica Tan, delivering the opening address to warmly welcome the crowd and get everyone in anticipation for the day’s program. [caption id=“jessica-opening” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Jessica welcomes the crowd to Build Singapore [/caption] [caption id=“audience” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] More than 400 participants attended Build Singapore [/caption] The first keynote was delivered by Giorgio Sardo, Senior Director of Client and Devices Evangelism at Microsoft. Giorgio introduced the key highlights of Build 2015, and how all these started off with Microsoft’s goal to bring Windows 10 to 1 billion devices - that’s a huge ambition, but I am confident we will get there (more details to Build 2015 available here). [caption id=“giorgio-keynote-1” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Giorgio demonstrates a flight simulation app with Windows 10 and Microsoft Band [/caption] [caption id=“giorgio-keynote-2” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Giorgio and Nobu show how IoT with Azure helps farmers track and manage their cows [/caption] Saranya Sriram, Technical Evangelist of Windows Azure APAC, also shared about Microsoft’s improved Azure app services. I got to learn more about the key characteristics that make Azure stand out as a preferred cloud computing platform, such as the durability, fault tolerance, scalability and flexibility it offers. Azure is surely the up and coming cloud OS that is constantly unveiling its potential by leaps and bounds. [caption id=“saranya-presentation” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Saranya gets the crowd excited with the improved Azure offerings [/caption] Next was Nikola Metulev, Program Manager at Microsoft, who showcased more demos on Windows 10 and the Universal Windows Platform (UWP). One of which was a Peek-a-Boo application that uses facial recognition technology to identify user presence. Imagine the potential this could have in other applications such as biometric authentication (and yes, that means we don’t have to memorize more passwords). [caption id=“nikola -presentation” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Nikola demonstrates IoT with Windows 10 [/caption] And then came lunch! It was a good break for everyone to freshen up, and also mingle with other participants in a comfortable setting. Wondering how comfortable was it? Check out the photo below! [caption id=“lunch” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Lunch was a hearty feast (drools) [/caption] We then had Lightning Talks, which was a refreshing switch to concise, relevant and interesting talks that each lasted for no more than 10 minutes. Our Microsoft partners from TV Thailand demonstrated their apps on Windows 10, Edge and Azure, and aptly highlighting the business value Microsoft brings to organizations. [caption id=“lightning-talks-1” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Our speakers gearing up for Lightning Talks [/caption] [caption id=“lightning-talks-2” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Gamurai demonstrates their hair styling simulation web app with Dave as our model. Looking good, Dave! [/caption] Dave Crawford, Microsoft’s Senior User Experience Program Manager, also engaged the audience with app design tips, and hearing this from a seasoned UX guy, it was definitely a rare experience! A little pity that it only lasted for 10 minutes though… Other impressive technologies such as Cortana, Windows Store and Bluetooth Beacons also wowed the crowd. [caption id=“dave-presentation” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Dave, the UX guy, sharing his valuable insights on design [/caption] The event proceeds with a Panel Question-and-Answer, where our distinguished speakers, Giorgio, Dave, Nikola and Saranya, were seated on stage to address any questions from the ground. Some clarified technical ones, while others questioned the viability of the strategies undertaken by Microsoft. I personally gathered much insight from the discussions, for example, someone was skeptical about the user reach of Windows mobile apps, but with the UWP, developers are in fact expanding their potential user base as they can easily deploy their apps across multiple platforms, including PCs, Xbox and Raspberry Pi 2. [caption id=“panel-qna” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Our panel having some face-to-face time with the audience during Q&A [/caption] I think the best were those who asked when would Windows 10, HoloLens and the like be introduced in Singapore. They totally displayed the kind of eagerness and anticipation that many of us have for these really cool technologies. I can’t wait! And the eventful day concluded with our very own Technical Evangelist from Microsoft Singapore, Terence Lim, who shared with the audience about how they can get involved with our local programmes - ME@MS, weshipcode.com, DreamSpark, Imagine Cup, BizSpark and Microsoft Visual Academy. [caption id=“terence-closing” align=“alignnone” width=“100%”] Terence concludes the event with a bang, what an eventful Thursday! [/caption]

Azure Community Meetup (June)

Sun, 31 May 2015 13:14:34 +0000

Have you ever experiencing website something like this? Linux in Azure you can easily resolve this. We will be sharing on Virtual Private Network and Proxy Server in Azure Virtual Machine using Linux OS. You can also bring your own laptop for a hands-on-workshop to create a VPN and Proxy server in Linux. See you there. :) The Azure Community meetup is conducted every week. Come join us to learn from one another some of the interesting things you can do on Azure!

Take your first step at the Microsoft Code for Change event!

Wed, 27 May 2015 14:28:02 +0000

Thousands across Asia have tried their first hour of code. Have you? Take your first step at the Microsoft Code for Change event! Microsoft invites students to join us at the launch of Code for Change on July 1, 2015, 14:00 to 17:00 (registration starts at 13:30). Venue details*: Main venue: NTUC Auditorium 4 satellite sites: • ITE College Central • Nanyang Polytechnic • Ngee Ann Polytechnic • Temasek Polytechnic Please contact sgmktg@microsoft.com should you require additional details. We look forward to see you at the event!

Team Building - The Fun starts with HERE!

Mon, 25 May 2015 11:32:33 +0000

The FANTASTILICIOUS HERE Singapore Team

Through the years of my working life, I have always been fascinated by the power of events and celebrations to pull people together. Since we spend our days working together and focusing on the business at hand, the work becomes our primary medium for interaction. As such, its character is formal, serious, important, necessary, technical, and administrative. We all accept this as part of the work climate. When there is an organization event or celebration, however, the character changes somewhat. It gives people time to pull back, relax, celebrate what has been accomplished, and look at each other as fellow humans bound together by a common purpose. May 4th. To ensure that all HERE Singapore employees get the opportunity to network and interact with one another, the Southeast Asia Regional Map & Content (RMC) team initiated and organized a series of teambuilding activities across Southeast Asia. First stop – Singapore! Held in the Singapore Management University (SMU) School of Economics and Social science, the teambuilding event aimed to bring together all employees and business units from HERE Singapore for an informal day of getting-to-know-one-another better and sharing of each other’s business updates. Close to 36 HERE employees turned up for a day of sharing sessions from the various business units, group discussion led by the Human Resource team, SEA RMC quarterly award presentation (congratulations to Lian ZhenXiong!) and a mind-boggling real life room escape activity with FreeingSG. The teambuilding ended with a sumptuous dinner at Irodori Japanese restaurant which were relished by the HERE Singapore employees and enhanced an already memorable evening. From a team building perspective, it allows for greater interaction between people separated by functional boundaries. This interaction then gives us the opportunity to see our colleagues from a different perspective, breaking down what may have been hidden barriers to open communication. At the end of the day, I am pretty sure that everyone of us indulged in interesting conversations, picked up random pieces of knowledge and most importantly, had fun! About the Author I work for HERE and this is my personal opinion

Tune in to HERE Expert Community Program | Singapore Community

Sat, 16 May 2015 04:30:42 +0000

Catch the HERE Expert Community Program on Youtube channel now! The first HERE Expert Community Program video featuring the Singapore community in action is now LIVE! Find out what’s going in the hearts and minds of the community across the HERE Expert Community Program in Southeast Asia. For more information, ideas and activities, visit our HERE ECP SEA YouTube page and subscribe! Our first batch of videos come from the HERE Expert Community Singapore Team. Featuring HERE’s Singapore collaboration with Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) Toa Payoh students and cross country collaboration with Sepuluh November Institute of Technology Surabaya, Indonesia. Also, catch a glimpse of our 2 Map Masters from Singapore! Watch below: Enjoy!! [embed]https://youtu.be/QGzx64wB8Bk[/embed]

Interview with Map Master - Patrick Torres

Fri, 15 May 2015 04:30:02 +0000

Patrick Torres is our interviewee today! Visit him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janalfredpatricktorres and Instagram: https://instagram.com/patricktorres Enough dilly-dallying! Let’s get to the interview… ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Patrick: I’m Jan Alfred Patrick Torres and I’m from Balanga City Bataan, although for the longest time I’m based in Manila because of my studies and now for work. I’m currently working at Wizardsgroup Inc. as a Software Quality Assurance Tester. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Patrick: It all started during one of our Microsoft Student Partner sessions where the HERE representatives invited us to join a mapping contest exclusive for MSPs and as well as their newly established community in the Philippines. I contributed to the most number of edits in the Microsoft Student Partners edition of the Super Editor and in parallel to that, I was ranked #3 in the HERE Expert Community Philippines Badge Program in 2013 from then on I was named one of the HERE Map Masters for Southeast Asia and representing the Philippines together with 4 other Map Masters at that time. HERE: Do you have any suggestions or tips for wannabe-Map Masters or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Patrick: There’s only one thing a wannabe-Map Master should remember, “Explore”. Explore our country and discover new places and experience how beautiful the Philippines is. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Patrick: I have already been using HERE Maps in my smartphone even before I knew about the community during one of our MSP sessions. This led me to do some edits as part of the Microsoft Student Partners edition as part of the Super Editor contest. HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Patrick: Apart from the people behind HERE itself, one member impressed me when I first join the community. He is one of the major contributors during the early days of the HERE Expert Community and currently a Map Master, Mr. Neil Ross Goco Jr. It’s ironic because I first saw Neil Ross before I became a Microsoft Student Partner and at that instance, I have a hunch that he would be actively involved in communities and it really happened. HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Patrick: The HERE Appreciation Day is by far my best experience as a Map Master. This is where we were recognized for our contributions and got to know the community members more especially my co-Map Masters. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Patrick: Locally, it would be fun if there were “special interest groups” that each community member can join whether the group focuses on cities, barangays, beaches, parks, malls, etc. Internationally, I would like to see all the Map Masters gather in one place and learning from each other’s experiences which would also be a way to boost the Map Master award! HERE: Final words/Your Motto as a Map Master Patrick: Nowadays, a digital map is not just for travelers only but for everyone. Each one of us has gone mobile and always on the move which is why HERE Maps could be an integral part of our every day journey. With the help of the HERE Expert Community, we could all enrich and make it a reflection of our journey through map edits. More travels, more edits, more fun! ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- Very well said Patrick on your motto as a Map Master. Thanks for your amazing contributions to HERE too! Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Program

Running Speed Test on Ubuntu Server

Thu, 14 May 2015 04:30:20 +0000

Having a slow connection to your Ubuntu Server? “Speedtest-cli” is a tool that can help you perform a speed test from your Linux Terminal / Command Line.

1. Download and run Putty (http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe) 2. Enter your server host name or IP address. 3. Log into your server 4. Enter the following command

sudo -i apt-get install speedtest-cli

5. After the download has completed, you may now perform speedtest-cli command

You can run a speed test with the nearby lowest ping server by running the following command

Interview with Map Master - Fauzi Rachman

Wed, 13 May 2015 04:30:43 +0000

Welcome to another installment of our blog series – Interview with a Map Master Today’s interview is with Fauzi Rachman. Visit his Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fauzi.rachman.50?fref=pb_other -——————————————————————————————————————————————————– HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Fauzi: I am Fauzi Rachman and currently a student from the Faculty of Physics Engineering at Gadjah Mada University. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Fauzi: I was born in Tasikmalaya, West Java. When I started in the community, the map coverage was very little, so I contributed a lot of information through HERE Map Creator. I think this was one of the reason why I was nominated and awarded a Map Master due to my active contributions. HERE: Do you have any suggestion or tip for wannabe-Map Masters or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Fauzi: As a Map Master, we need to be very active. However, active doesn’t mean we need to contribute a lot, rather we need to have a good sense of ownership of our neighborhood. Once we noticed any updates/changes, we will add those changes/updates via HERE Map Creator and share our best practices with the rest. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Fauzi: I use Windows Phones (formerly known as Nokia Phones), so I definitely know about HERE Map. My first contribution was on geometry and point of interest around Tasikmalaya. HERE: Do you participate in other mapping/community activities outside of the HERE Expert Community Program? If yes, please elaborate? Fauzi: I am a research student from the Faculty of Physics Engineering at Gadjah Mada University. This community is focused on doing research and development which is related to my major. HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Fauzi: Map Master Sanggi Rizki Paisal. He often shares tips and tricks, photos and his experience in the data collection process for the HERE Expert Community Program via social media. HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Fauzi: Travelling to Jakarta last June was one of my best experience as I got to meet up with all the Map Masters in one place. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Fauzi: Establishing a small local chapter of the HERE Expert Community program based on each region’s activity would be desirable. HERE: Final words/your motto as a Map Master? Fauzi: As a map master, one of the expectation is to be able to contribute more to the HERE Expert Community Program, and one of my target is to get more users to start contributing. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————– Well, thank you, Fauzi for the kind words! The HERE Expert Community Program thanks you for your dedication and your commitment is crucial for everyone! Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Program

Microsoft introduces the most affordable Lumia smartphone in Singapore

Sat, 09 May 2015 04:30:51 +0000

Microsoft introduces the most affordable Lumia smartphone in Singapore

The Lumia 430 begins rollout on 9 May

SINGAPORE — May 6, 2015 — Microsoft unlocked the promise of smartphone ownership for many more people with the introduction of Lumia 430 Dual SIM, the latest addition to its affordable range of Lumia smartphones. Built with the latest Windows Phone 8.1 software, a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor featuring a dual-core CPU running at 1.2GHz, and with Microsoft Office, Skype and OneDrive pre-loaded, the Lumia 430 Dual SIM was designed to help people achieve more at work, at play and on the go. With an estimated retail price of SGD119, it is also the most affordably priced Lumia that will be able to upgrade to Windows 10.¹ Microsoft continues to expand its affordable smartphone portfolio, which now spans a diverse range of price points and capabilities, from the super-affordable Lumia 435 with Lumia Camera to the recently announced Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL, which come with a one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal. People can have their choice of Lumia device to suit their everyday needs and budget. Windows Phone 8.1 devices like the Lumia 430 Dual SIM will benefit from further innovation, with the ability to upgrade them to Windows 10 when the service debuts later this year. The Lumia 430 Dual SIM features a compact, durable and colorful design with a vivid 4-inch WVGA display that brings all the latest apps, games and videos to life. With Lumia 430, people can instantly achieve more every day, and they can use Microsoft Office and Outlook for work and personal productivity. They can access up to 30GB² of free cloud storage on OneDrive for safekeeping important content. People can experience the fun of video calls with Skype-integrated calling and a front-facing camera. Smart Dual SIM allows people to assign unique profiles to their SIM cards, such as “work” or “family,” to help them better manage daily communication. Favorite apps like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Candy Crush Saga and Instagram are available, with more apps and entertainment just a click away on the Windows Phone Store. “Given the success of our affordable Lumia range, it is clear that people are looking for a smartphone that is good value for money, but still works smoothly and easily,” said Bruce Howe, General Manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices Sales for Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. “The Lumia 430 Dual SIM is optimized to bring price points even lower, while offering features that are capable of fulfilling the demands business and personal,” Howe said. The Lumia 430 Dual SIM will be available in Singapore at Microsoft Authorized Mobile Reseller in Funan DigitaLife Mall and GadgetWorld, 3Mobile and Handphoneshop outlets from 9 May, Saturday at a recommended retail price of SGD119. It will be available in two colors: bright orange and black.

Hey developers, Build is coming to Singapore

Wed, 06 May 2015 14:00:56 +0000

Microsoft Build is an annual conference event held by Microsoft aimed towards software and web developers using Windows, Windows Phone, Microsoft Azure and other Microsoft technologies. For the very first time, Build is coming to Singapore, and we’re like to invite you to join us! The Microsoft Build Developer conference was held in San Francisco on 29 April - 1 May 2015, where many interesting and cool things were announced. TL;DR, here’s a quick summary on how Microsoft is welcoming you to Windows 10:

InnovFest Unbound 2015

Tue, 05 May 2015 11:44:03 +0000

InnovFest Singapore 2015 was a 2-day festival held over 2 days (28 - 29 April) at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. The event featured Asian innovation and brought the best ideas together. 1,500 entrepreneurs, investors, government agencies and researchers had the opportunity to meet, share their knowledge and network. [caption id=“innovfest_001” align=“aligncenter” width=“5184”] InnovFest - where Asian innovation meets the world[/caption] The Guest-of-Honor, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, the Minister-in-charge of the Smart Nation initiative, shared in his opening address about the importance of innovation for our survival. He also took pride in sharing how half of Singapore’s cabinet ministers are engineers, and also how our very own Prime Minister can code. [caption id=“innovfest_002” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Dr. Balakrishnan had the opportunity to interact with the innovators[/caption] I had an amazing experience of talking to different innovators and sharing about Microsoft BizSpark, a program which gives startups 3 years of free stuff – software, service, tech support, and Azure cloud services. As I was roaming around different booths, I had the chance to check out all the new and really cool apps, innovations and cutting edge technologies! Some of the interesting ideas include a a watch that helps hook people up with the opposite gender located nearby, a smart home that can automatically light up your room with using a Kinect sensor based on your identity and profile, a bicycle with wheels that depicts engaging displays. [caption id=“innovfest_003” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Bicycle that displays advertisements[/caption] [caption id=“innovfest_004” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Smart home using Kinect sensor[/caption] [caption id=“innovfest_005” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Startup Gamurai showcasing their awesome product[/caption] [caption id=“innovfest_006” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Nicholas sharing with start-ups about Microsoft BizSpark[/caption] Apart from exhibitions, there were also workshops and panel discussions on the latest trends in global & Asian innovations, keynote speeches and a series of satellite events. We have our very own Director of Developer Experience & Evangelism of Microsoft Singapore, Mr. Nobuhiro Ito, sharing about the secrets of Asia’s User Goldmine together in a panel discussion. [caption id=“innovfest_007” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Panel Discussion on Discovering Asia’s User Goldmine[/caption] [caption id=“innovfest_008” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Workshops in InnovFest[/caption] Attendees were treated with a wide variety of delicious food, ranging from an international buffet spread to local delights such as chicken rice and nasi lemak, and also awesome tasting coffee. Over lunch, we also had the opportunity to network with different attendees and exchange ideas around the table. [caption id=“innovfest_009” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Buffet Spread for lunch[/caption] [caption id=“innovfest_005” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] The roundtable setting facilitates discussions among attendees[/caption] [caption id=“innovfest_005” align=“aligncenter” width=“1919”] The Cortana boys[/caption] With so many mind-blowing ideas, amazing people and a constant spread of sumptuous meals, it is no doubt Asia’s most exciting innovation conference. I’m definitely looking forward to attending the next one, are you?

First Microsoft Mobile Reseller Store opens in Singapore

Sat, 02 May 2015 06:55:44 +0000

First Microsoft Mobile Reseller Store opens in Singapore

The launch of the First Microsoft Mobile Reseller (MMR) in Singapore at Funan DigitaLife Mall! This newly launched Microsoft Store will be the first in Singapore to offer an assortment of best-in-class Microsoft products, including Windows Phones, Feature Phones, Surface Pro 3, Xbox, Windows, Microsoft Office 365 and more. It will also offer an extensive line-up of Microsoft as well as third-party accessories to cater to different needs of Singaporean customers. The Microsoft Store will also have a Live Experience Table to showcase how consumers can truly enjoy seamless integration across multiple screens through Microsoft’s devices, apps and services. “The new store in Funan DigitalLifeMall is a big leap for our brand, and also signifies Microsoft’s commitment to the Singapore market,” said Bruce Howe, General Manager, Microsoft Mobile Devices Sales for Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei. “We want to provide Singaporeans with an enriched retail experience whilst continually empowering them with our products.” In conjunction with the store’s grand opening on 2nd and 3rd May, Microsoft has a series of activities and promotions lined up including:

Intel and SPRING Singapore announce collaboration to support Internet-of-Things and Wearable Initiative in Singapore

Thu, 23 Apr 2015 04:30:54 +0000

Singapore, April 20, 2015 – SPRING Singapore and Intel Singapore today announced a joint initiative to support startups and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) interested in developing products and services in the Internet-of-Things (IoT) and Wearable segments. The goal of this initiative is to establish an ecosystem of Singapore companies capable of developing world-class IoT and wearable products and services, based on Intel technology. The initiative is being managed under SPRING’s Partnerships for Capability Transformation (PACT) programme, of which Intel is a supporting member. Under PACT, Intel works closely with SPRING to identify SMEs and provide business and technology guidance. Currently, there are nine local startups and tech innovators that are part of this initiative including T-Ware, ConnectedHealth, Newton Circus, gridComm, Trilogy Technologies, NexTan, RFCOM Technologies and Design Exchange. These companies have strong industry expertise in healthcare wearables, IOT solutions for remote patient/elderly monitoring, home energy management systems as well as expertise in wireless technology, manufacturing and user experience design. Jointly, the members will identify projects and business opportunities in Healthcare, Home Energy Management and Assisted Living verticals. The Centre of Innovation for Electronics located at Nanyang Polytechnic will also provide consultation and engineering support for this initiative. “SPRING is highly supportive of Intel’s mentorship role in this initiative. Building capabilities in IoT and Wearable technologies is a complex undertaking and we value the expertise and guidance from companies such as Intel. Through this collaboration under the PACT programme, SPRING will work closely with Intel to continue identifying projects and capability development programmes to support candidates in this initiative. The PACT programme, jointly administered by SPRING and Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), encourages mutually beneficial partnerships between large organisations and SMEs in various capability building areas,” said Fung Mok Wing, Director, Partnerships for Capability Transformation (PACT), SPRING Singapore. “We are pleased to be a part of the PACT programme and look forward to working with SPRING on this initiative, enabling solutions and platforms catering to industry needs,” said Sumner Lemon, Intel Country Manager for Singapore. “IoT is a rapidly growing market but faces scalability hurdles. By establishing a well-connected ecosystem with common goals focusing on verticals, we believe the Singaporean companies and tech innovators will be able to accelerate the development of products and solutions in the IoT and Wearable segments”.

Lumia 640 and 640 XL Now Available in Singapore

Wed, 22 Apr 2015 04:30:15 +0000

Lumia 640 and 640 XL Now Available in Singapore

Increasing productivity, maintaining affordability – and upgradeable to Windows 10. It just got better!

SINGAPORE – Microsoft last Thursday announced the availability of the Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL in Singapore for only SGD299 and SGD429 respectively. The latest devices to join the Lumia portfolio, the Lumia 640 and Lumia 640 XL offer more personal computing and increased productivity through seamlessly integrated Microsoft Office experiences, OneDrive¹ storage and fast 4G connectivity. Both devices will upgrade to and benefit from Windows 10 as it becomes available later this year².

Interview with Map Master - Christian Moscosa

Tue, 21 Apr 2015 04:30:30 +0000

Welcome to the first installment of our ‘Interview with a Map Master’ blog series. Today’s interview is with Christian Moscosa.(Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/moscosa.tian?fref=ts) Now let’s get to the interview! ————————————————————————————————————————————————— HERE: Who are you, where are you, and what do you do? Christian: Hi, my name is Christian and I am a HERE Map Master from the Philippines. I am working as a junior consultant at Makati, loves programming, Quora.com, Travel and Planetshakers. HERE: How did you become a HERE Map Master? Christian: I really enjoy mapping with HERE maps. When HERE maps Philippines announced the very first HERE map masters after the results of our contribution, we were thrilled with the results and I’m glad to be part of it. HERE: Do you have any suggestions or tips for wannabe-Map Masters or aspire to eventually become a HERE Map Master? Christian: Being part of the HERE community is fun and exciting, especially when you contribute a place that more people can benefit from it. Being one of the HERE Map Master adds excitement for me and sharing the experience with my colleagues and friends is the amazing part. I encourage each and every one to look for the local HERE Maps on their places/country and start to contribute and be part of it. HERE: How were you introduced to the HERE Map and what was your first contribution? Christian: During the program at Microsoft Student Partner, HERE Philippines team first introduce to us the HERE Map. From there, I was captivated to contribute to HERE Map since I love using a map with my Windows Phone. My first edit was our house here at Cavite and it was exciting, I found out that our subdivision has this site development plan and that I can use to map each of the house numbers to our place. HERE: Who has impressed you in the HERE Expert Community Program, and why? Christian: Sir Lonel Labit, I admired his dedication to HERE map. I remember when he first show us the HERE map platform, adding roads and points of interest on it. We were thrilled and wanted to contribute to it at that moment. (FYI - Lonel Labit is our Project Manager in HERE Philippines) HERE: What is your best experience so far being a Map Master and in the HERE Expert Community Program? Christian: The HERE Appreciation day! I remember that day when I was able to meet up with the HERE Map masters from other region here at the Philippines. We shared some great time and also our insights and experiences. I was thrilled when the HERE Expert Community team demonstrated to us the advance tools, automotive car and technology that the team use to gather information and map data around the country. HERE: What are some of the areas of improvement which you would like to see in the HERE Expert Community Program? Christian: The HERE Expert Community Program in the Philippines is an awesome community and I love their office. One thing that comes to my mind is for the HERE Map Masters in Southeast Asia to come together at an event or a conference. That will be great! HERE: Final words/Your Motto as a Map Master Christian: This is for you, the one who loves to travel, the one who moves from places to places and navigating from point to point. HERE Maps helps you to locate, connect and navigate with those places and things seamlessly even without using internet or data. Here Map is awesome! —————————————————————————————————————————————————— Please join me in thanking Christian for the interview and community impact! Brought to you by the HERE Expert Community Program

Setting Up Office Remote for Android

Mon, 20 Apr 2015 05:00:14 +0000

Recently, Microsoft released Office Remote, a new Android app in the Play Store. Office Remote connects a PC to your Android Phone using Bluetooth, allowing you to control your Office documents over your phone. The app lets you control Word, Excel, and PowerPoint from across the room, so you can walk around freely during presentations. It also shows you your speaker notes and the presentation timer to help you present more effectively.

LIVEBLOG: LTA Transport & Youth Hackathon Finals

Sun, 19 Apr 2015 05:05:31 +0000

Here is our coverage of the LTA Transport & Youth Hackathon Finals!

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"Hacking" our transport systems at the Transport & You(th) Hackathon

Sun, 19 Apr 2015 03:05:25 +0000

This weekend, people all over Singapore have gathered at the Employment and Employability Institute in Jurong to hack our Singapore transport systems… No it’s not that kind of hacking you might be thinking about! These people are quickly creating new apps and software that are going to change how we use public transport daily, “hacking” together new ideas within the short span of two days. Singapore Land Transport Authority’s Transport and You(th) Hackathon kicked off on the evening Friday, 16 April with participants meeting up in the e2i event halls - the venue for the next 3 days of hacking and presentations.

Join the Azure Ignite Workshop

Sun, 12 Apr 2015 09:46:59 +0000

Azure Community Singapore is organizing a two-day, two-hour-each hands-on workshop about Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines! At the Azure Ignite Workshop, you’ll learn everything you need to know to set up flexible and scalable servers in the cloud for real-world use for a variety of applications on different OSes. Did they mention it was free? Do join in on 21st and 22nd April (Wed/Thu), 7PM to 9PM for the Azure Ignite Workshop at Microsoft Singapore, especially if you’re a beginner or intermediate developer/IT Pro on cloud technologies! If you think an Active Directory is a phonebook for keeping fit, then this meetup is for you! http://www.meetup.com/AzureSG/events/221785584/

10 cool things you didn't know you could do on Azure (in just a couple clicks)

Sat, 11 Apr 2015 14:42:41 +0000

One thing I love about Azure Web Apps is how easy it is to quickly set up various online applications and tools for different purposes. More often than not, you don’t even need to write a line of code! Just a couple of clicks from the Azure Gallery and boom, you have a new custom e-Commerce app ready. Want to write your own code? Just link the website to your source control of choice and continuous integration takes care of the rest! Here’s 10 things you might not have known you could do with Azure. Need an account to get started? Sign up for an Azure account before you try out any of these:

Imagine Cup 2015 Singapore Finals - Here are the Champions!

Fri, 10 Apr 2015 07:25:56 +0000

On the 4th of April 2015 (Saturday), Microsoft Singapore held the final round of the national Imagine Cup competition. The Imagine Cup competition is a global challenge which is comprised of three categories – Games, Innovation, and World Citizenship. Teams from local Polytechnics and Universities compete for an opportunity to present their ideas in the World Finals at Seattle in July and for a chance to win the grand prize of $50,000 USD. This year, our champions who will be moving on to the online World Semi-finals are: • Games - Team Illan (Nanyang Polytechnic) • Innovation – Team 3DiMS (Nanyang Polytechnic) • World Citizenship - Team Mozter (Temasek Polytechnic) [caption id=“attachment_19579” align=“aligncenter” width=“4208”] Team Illan[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_19582” align=“aligncenter” width=“4208”] Team Mozter[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_19591” align=“aligncenter” width=“4208”] Team 3DiMS[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_19580” align=“aligncenter” width=“4208”] Team Blue Monocle[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_19581” align=“aligncenter” width=“4208”] Team Concept Crew[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_19583” align=“aligncenter” width=“4208”] Team eSpeech Therapist[/caption] Team Illan The world as we know it has lost its colours and liveliness. Gifted with special powers, the protagonist of this game goes on an adventure to repaint the world and seek out his true identity. However, his journey will not be easy as mind-boggling puzzles stand between him and his destination. Team 3DiMS 3DiMS (3D Measurement System) is a software running on the Microsoft Surface that performs Intracerebral Haemorrhage (ICH) 3D detection and measurement for rapid stroke patients. 3DiMS is able to measure the ICH volume with reasonable accuracy within a minute using only the Microsoft Surface, with no other additional equipment required. It is fast, convenient and low cost. This capability to rapidly measure ICH Volume at the bedside has the potential to improve the care of stroke patients worldwide. Team Mozter Mozter is a mosquito monitoring platform that leverages on the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-based technologies to assist vector control officers with national mosquito surveillance and control programmes. The platform comprises of (a) a mosquito detection sensor, (b) the data processing server and (c) a data visualisation platform to tell the story of the data collected from the sensor. Also today on the 10th of April (Friday), our 3 champion teams in the respective categories attended a special session here in Microsoft Singapore. The 3 teams had the opportunity to refine their presentation over the week based on feedback from the 4th April session, and present it to our internal Microsoft teams, where they were given additional feedback. The 3 teams will be working on a video submission of their projects, where they will compete at the APAC level. A total of 6 teams from APAC will eventually be shortlisted for the World Finals in Seattle. [caption id=“attachment_19607” align=“aligncenter” width=“3000”] Microsoft employees listening in to the presentations from the winning teams[/caption]

HERE Expert Community Program – Thailand & Philippines

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 05:00:56 +0000

In the second part of this 3-part series on the Here Expert Community Program, we featured Indonesia and Malaysia and shared the amazing contributions the community has been cranking out. In an earlier post, we took a look at the Program in Singapore too. For today’s finale, we are proud to feature the ‘Land of Smiles’ and the ‘Pearl of the Orient Seas’. The Land of Smiles - Thailand……our story so far Thailand community membership almost trebled during 2014 and accounted for around 14% of edits in the South East Asia Region. HERE Thailand communities are widely distributed across Thailand - North (Chiangmai), North-eastern (Ubonratchathani), Central (Nokorn sawan), South (Chomphon) and lastly with Bangkok being the core center of the communities group. 80% of the Thailand communities are aged under 25 and are mostly developers, smartphone users, university students, travelers and techno geeks. In 2014-5, HERE awarded 7 top influencers in Thailand with the ‘Map Master’ title, recognizing their excellent contributions. We continue to work with the Map Masters to build our relationship and share ideas. Achievement In Thailand, the Map Creator tool is regarded by the communities as one of the most advanced technology tools for data contribution. There is a great sense of pride among the community in knowing that their contributions to HERE play a vital role in bringing the freshest and most updated map to everyone. We have established a strong working partnership with the universities and government units and are focused on providing top notch training to the communities on the usage of the Map creator tool. 2015 and beyond For 2015, we would like to invite more users to join the HERE Thailand Expert Community Program, participate actively in all our activities and campaigns and contribute to creating a more rich and complete map for Thailand. We are aiming that our community data will be used for the new generation of cars (autonomous cars) and the Thailand community will grow broadly and steadily with our HERE API development supported for integration into location-based service (LBS) applications. Contact: For more information about the HERE Thailand Expert Community Program, join https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEREExpertCommunityTH/ or contact thecpteam@here.com Cruising on to our last stop is the Philippines, better known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient Seas’. Our story so far Philippines community membership almost doubled during 2014 and accounted for around 6% of edits in the South East Asia region. HERE Philippines communities are distributed across the 3 regions of Philippines - Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Philippines Communities are mostly engaged with university groups and government units. They have also partnered with one of the biggest telco leaders in the Philippines – SMART Communications, Inc for many map creator based training workshops and competitions. In 2014-5, HERE awarded 8 top influencers in the Philippines with the ‘Map Master’ title, recognizing their excellent contributions. We continue to work with the Map Masters to build our relationship and share ideas. Achievement In 2014, the HERE Philippines Expert Community partnered with SMART Communications to hold the first HERE Hackathon in Manila, showcasing the endless possibilities that innovative strategies can bring in a short period of time and how different mentalities brought together in a high-pressured environment can take innovation to another dimension. In addition to that, a five day training course ‘SWEEPx’ was conducted over five different cities in the Philippines to help university professors create their own mobile apps with the integration of the world’s best maps. 2015 and beyond For 2015, HERE Philippines will continue to pursue its main objective of building locals as experts in their hometowns and making the best map of the Philippines. Continuous engagement with universities and local government units for mapping activities is in the pipeline and there are plans to reach out to specific developer groups for sharing HERE APIs to create fun and useful apps. Contact For more information about the HERE Philippines Expert Community Program, join https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEREExpertCommunityPH/ or contact phecpteam@here.com That’s all folks! If you are keen to know more about the amazing works of the HERE Expert Community Program, do join our Facebook page today Indonesia | Malaysia | Singapore | Thailand | Philippines Till then, HERE Fans, keep mapping!

Announcing the 2015 Public Recruitment for Microsoft Student Partners

Sat, 04 Apr 2015 03:27:22 +0000

I’m glad to announce the public recruitment of the Microsoft Student Partners in Singapore! If you’re interested in joining MSP Singapore, please register your interest now by 6 May 2015:

Who are the Microsoft Student Partners?

The Microsoft Student Partners are a global group of student developer who love the Microsoft technology stack, and love sharing this technology with their student communities around them. In Singapore, we have 40 awesome MSPs from polytechnics and universities, from Schools of IT, Engineering, Business and more! They are part of over 7,000 MSPs from 120 countries all over the globe. These MSPs are experts on the Microsoft technology stack, and organize activities and events for their own campus. Here’s a video featuring some of these international MSPs: We’ve just announced the Public Recruitment for MSP in Singapore last weekend at the Imagine Cup 2015 Singapore Finals. Here’s the slide deck that we showed in case you missed it: We’re looking for a limited number of enthusiastic student developers and ambassadors to join the MSP Singapore group this May. Do you have what it takes to be a technical evangelist MSP? If you do, register your interest now by 6 May 2015! After registering your interest, we will request more information from you, and shortlist potential MSPs to attend an interview. Finally, accepted MSPs will be invited to attend our May meetup. Here’s an overview of what happens when after registering your interest. If you have any questions, please send them over to Jason Chee, Programme Lead for MSP Singapore: t-jachee@microsoft.com

Join the Xbox One #IDARB Tournament at the Imagine Cup 2015 Singapore Finals!

Fri, 03 Apr 2015 04:53:27 +0000

We’re adding a bit of fun to this year’s Imagine Cup 2015 Singapore Finals, happening this Saturday (4 April 9AM)! Now, you can take part in the Post-Event Xbox One Tournament! At the end of the Imagine Cup Singapore finals, there will be an Xbox One Tournament, featuring #IDARB, a chaotic 8-player eSport jumping future arena ball game! Take part in the tournament after the event and stand a chance to win a prize! Audience can take part too by hashbombing the game and changing the game live through Twitter. Remember to register for the event in order to take part in the #IDARB tournament. See you there and get your fingers ready!

HERE Expert Community Program - Indonesia & Malaysia

Fri, 03 Apr 2015 04:30:47 +0000

In the 1st program series, we shared some insights on HERE as well as the community landscape of the HERE Expert Community Program in Singapore. Today’s article (2nd part of a 3-part program series), we will focus on the HERE Expert Community in Indonesia and Malaysia. Our first stop for today is Indonesia. Indonesia is the fourth largest country in the world and is home to more than 195 million people. While much of Indonesia’s allure lies in its rich cultural tapestry and untamed wilderness, its cities and resorts are also famed for world-class visitor facilities **INDONESIA….**Our story so far Indonesia community membership more than doubled in 2014 and accounted for almost three quarters (71.8%) of edits in the South East Asia region. HERE Indonesia communities and members are widespread in most of the major islands and our university partners are predominantly from the top 5 universities in Indonesia. Three quarters of our Indonesia community members are under 25 and mostly developers, smartphone users, university students, travelers and techno geeks. In 2014-5, HERE awarded 10 top influencers in Indonesia with the ‘Map Master’ title, recognizing their excellent contributions. We continue to work with the Map Masters to build our relationship and share ideas. Achievement With a membership around 1,100 and still growing, it is not surprising that the HERE Indonesia Expert Community Program Facebook had the highest number of contributions worldwide for 2014. In 2015, we introduced Indonesia community members to the ‘Community Goes to HERE’ concept, the first event of its kind offering the opportunity to tour the HERE Indonesia office, get a deep-dive into the HERE Expert Community Program and see how HERE collects data via our highly automated True cars. 2015 and beyond For 2015, HERE Indonesia aims to hold our first ever API Map Challenge, organize a ‘Lost in Heaven’ flash-mob campaign and a HERE Indonesia Appreciation event for the community. We will continue to collaborate with the various universities for potential engagement opportunities. Contact For more information about the HERE Indonesia Expert Community Program, join https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEREExpertCommunityIndonesia/ or contact idecpteam@here.com Hopping to our next country, Malaysia! A bubbling, bustling melting-pot of races and religions where Malays, Indians, Chinese and many other ethnic groups live together in peace and harmony!! **MALAYSIA…**Our story so far Malaysia community members grew by more than 52% during 2014 and accounted for ~ 7.5% of contributions in South East Asia region. HERE Malaysia communities are distributed widely across Peninsular and East Malaysia with ~80% of the Malaysia community members under 25 years of age and mostly university and college students. In 2014-5, HERE awarded 8 top influencers in Malaysia with the ‘Map Master’ title, recognizing their excellent contributions. We continue to work with the Map Masters to build our relationship and share ideas. Achievement Communities in Malaysia have been collaborating with The Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM), State Land Survey Board (Sabah & Sarawak), National Geomatics & Geoinformatics organizer and Microsoft Students Partners for map creator based competitions. In 2014, the HERE Malaysia Community team participated in the National Geomatics and Geoinformatics Students Innovation Competition (NGGSIC) – the only competition platform held at Malaysia national level for these students to come up with creative ideas, new approaches and innovation for maps and systems. The results were amazing as NGGSIC clocked the highest edits for Malaysia over a period of one month from the competition timeline. On top of that, HERE Malaysia was appointed as the Polytechnic Industry Partner and recognized by the Ministry of Education (MOE) for their tremendous effort made through partnerships with four polytechnics in Malaysia. 2015 and beyond For 2015, HERE Malaysia is looking to create more publicity and awareness of the HERE Expert community program with a variety of potential users, including school students, professional groups and others through map campaign awareness, participation in conferences, competitions and collaboration with organizations from government bodies and private sectors. Contact For more information about the HERE Malaysia Expert Community Program, join https://www.facebook.com/groups/MalaysiaHERE/ or contact myecpteam@here.com Till the next article, HERE fans, keep mapping!

Microsoft introduces Surface 3: The thinnest and lightest Surface yet

Thu, 02 Apr 2015 04:30:19 +0000

Microsoft introduces Surface 3: The thinnest and lightest Surface yet

Pre-order begins April 1 in Singapore

Singapore — March 31, 2015 — Microsoft Corp. is introducing a new Surface, the Surface 3. Like Surface Pro 3, it’s a tablet that can replace your laptop but is thinner, lighter and even more affordable. Powerful and efficient, Surface 3 is optimised to run full Windows and Office and features long battery life. The ability to run Windows apps and the versatile pen experience¹ — great for taking notes or marking documents — make Surface 3 ideal for students, schools and anyone looking for a portable device to get things done. Starting at just a suggested retail price of S$748, Surface 3 packs performance and value into an elegant, lightweight design. “Surface 3 brings what customers love about Surface Pro 3 to more people, delivering the premium design and productivity of Surface in a more affordable device,” said Ian Tan, Surface Lead for Consumer, Microsoft Singapore. “We’ve taken everything we learned making Surface Pro 3 and poured that innovation into this newest Surface. It’s beautiful, versatile, powerful and productive, and our customers are going to love what it lets them do.”

Startup Feature: Babbobox Founder, Alex Chan

Wed, 01 Apr 2015 04:30:43 +0000

In the next installment of our Startup Features, we talk to Alex Chan from Babbobox, one of our BizSpark startups. Babbobox is a Singapore startup that deals with Cloud DMS (Document Management System) allowing people to collaborate and manage their document life-cycle better.

Is this your main occupation?

Yes. Even though I have vested interest in some other businesses, but I started Babbobox, therefore, no effort will be spared for Babbobox.

Come watch the Imagine Cup 2015 Competition Finals

Tue, 31 Mar 2015 04:30:34 +0000

Since Imagine Cup started in 2003, students all over the world have teamed up to make the world a better place. By creating impressive new technology projects in fields such as health, education, and the environment these students have shown the world new ways to think and to change. Over the past 6 months, innovative young minds all over Singapore have been dreaming, building and living the inventor’s dream. To make the world a better place, they have created projects to influence critical fields such as healthcare, education and our environment. After rounds of refining their projects, six teams of finalists will pitch to industry experts for the opportunity to represent Singapore in the World Finals held in Seattle this July. Only one will be selected for each of these categories: World Citizenship, Innovation, and Games. For the techies, the creatives, and the entrepreneurs – JOIN US! Be inspired. Be the next!

BattleHack Hackathon @ Paypal 2015

Mon, 30 Mar 2015 15:50:40 +0000

Last weekend, my friends and I took part in BattleHack, a hackathon that is held in 14 different cities around the globe, hosted by PayPal and Braintree. During the event, participants were tasked with developing a range of applications, aimed to solve a challenge of their choice. On top of winning a real battle axe that glows (how cool is that!), the winning team of 4 will be flown to the finals at PayPal’s headquarters in Silicon Valley to battle it out with teams from around the world for the $100,000 grand prize. The event kicked-off with a huge bang at 11am, where developers were introduced to all the cool event partners that they may leverage on during the competition. Also, lots of cool swags were given out! Partners for BattleHack were eagerly sharing their individual hardware gadgets and services. Some of them include Hoiio - a software company that provides cloud communication and apps to businesses, Rainmaker Labs - who gave developers the opportunity to use their beacons to trigger actions on mobile phones, 12 Geeks - which brought a cool eyewear that allows developers to create apps on their mobile phones and view them in a 3D-like space, and JustGiving - a platform which helps in fundraising. Well, since a picture speaks a thousand words, I’ll let them do the talking… Keep a look out for all the awesome food provided over the event. They feed us so well, makes us wonder if we’re actually here for a buffet-athon rather than a hack-athon, haha! They even brought in a bartender serving alcohol! As the clock ticks past midnight into the wee hours, I got to see the perseverance of many developers. Of course, there were also those who KO-ed and lost to the Z-monster. If you look hard enough at the photos, you’d spot some teams who would cherish a game of DotA more than their sleep! And finally… the moment we were all waiting for. The sharing session to hear about all the different cool ideas that surfaced from the 24 hours! Ideas ranged from apps that does Twitter Analytics, a mobile phone selling/buying platform, web services that handles memory of your loved ones, mobile services that handles queue problems, food ordering systems, and even crazy ideas that aims to help our rag-and-bone man in their work … and many more! It was truly an amazing experience, and I’ve made lots of friends from different countries and exchanged ideas. Can’t wait till BattleHack 2016, and hope to see everyone again next year :)

Angular and TypeScript: The Affair of Two Tech Giants

Mon, 30 Mar 2015 03:00:28 +0000

You didn’t read it wrong. I have been a long proponent of Angular ever since it started picking up popularity. As you might have known, Angular is an open source web application framework that is currently maintained by Google and the community. One of the best features of Angular is its two-way data binding that allow us to synchronize models and views automatically. TypeScript on the other hand is a compiled language that is a superset of JavaScript maintained by Microsoft. TypeScript enforces safe-typing and allows modular programming, a feature that we are familiar with in other OOP languages. Angular 2, a newly rewritten version of Angular, is developed for mobile in mind, hence the focus on performance, speed, and efficiency. As of last year, it was written using AtScript, a superset of TypeScript that uses Annotation processing. However, just today, Angular and TypeScript team announced that Angular will now be build with TypeScript.

Students: How to Join DreamSpark for Free Dev Tools (Singapore)

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 04:30:13 +0000

If you’re a student in Singapore (or anywhere, really) at a recognized educational institute (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary) you’re eligible for Microsoft DreamSpark where you can get free development tools and software. At DreamSpark, you’ll be able to explore programming through tools such as Visual Studio and SQL Server and take advantage of subscriptions such as Windows Store Developer Accounts and the recently released Azure offer for students. Here’s how to join:

Sneak preview for Windows 10 app developers

Thu, 26 Mar 2015 02:29:49 +0000

Microsoft has just released an initial SDK preview for Windows 10 developers to start experimenting with the new platform capabilities for building Windows 10 apps. Just to explore the new platform and see how quickly I can launch a new app, I installed the latest Windows 10 Technical Preview Build 10041 through the Windows Insider program, and also the latest Visual Studio 2015 CTP 6 and the Windows 10 developer tools. The cool thing about the Windows 10 Universal App is that it is able to run on all Windows 10 devices - PC, Tablet, Phone, and even Xbox! How awesome is that! Similar to building Apps for Windows 8, the templates allow developers to select a language of their choice, such as C#, VB, C++ and JavaScript. For my case, I chose to use JavaScript. I added in a few of my designs for my app logo and updated their path in the package.appxmanifest. For a quick trial, I reused the code for a Windows 8 app I made in the past. After adding in the code, I can deploy my app for testing purposes on the different platforms. In this preview, the feature to deploy the app to a phone running Windows 10 and Xbox is not yet supported. In the meantime, I can deploy it on the Windows 10 Local Machine, as well as a Windows 10 Phone emulator. Subsequently, I tried to run my Windows 10 app on my Local Machine and Phone Emulator, and this is what I see! As I was checking out on Windows 10 Universal App development, something interesting that I thought was worth mentioning is the Application Insights, which is a service that now allows developers to monitor their published apps and visualize data such as application usage or diagnostic reports in the Azure Preview Portal. Here is a guide that shows you how this can be added to your Windows 10 Universal App. Interested in creating your first Windows 10 Universal App too? There’s a lot of free resources available on Microsoft Virtual Academy, such as A Developer’s Guide to Windows 10 Preview, that you can leverage on! It will show you how you can quickly set up your “Hello World!” app, extension SDKs, App Services and more. Also, if you are familiar in developing on Windows 8, it also guides you on the migration process. Do check it out :)

My First Web Camp Experience

Wed, 25 Mar 2015 15:11:12 +0000

Web Camp - Exploring Microsoft Azure and MVC framework in Visual Studio

Everybody’s gotta start somewhere

I’ve been having the inclination to learn how to build my own website for a very long time. The chance to design and style my very own corner of the internet, and upload my ideas and projects has always been exciting, but has been taking a back seat. Too much work, too lazy, too busy with Dota2 - there’s always been an excuse to push it to the next free slot. So when Terence, a Technical Evangelist from Microsoft Singapore posted about his upcoming Web Camp, I was quite excited at the prospect of learning to use Microsoft’s Azure platform for web applications and projects. Laptop? Check. Cables? Check. Open mind? Bit sleepy, but check. Off I went!

Students: Claim your Free Microsoft Azure

Wed, 25 Mar 2015 08:41:50 +0000

Yesterday, Microsoft announced that students around the world will be able to access Microsoft Azure for free. Previously, students who wanted to explore Microsoft’s cloud computing platform and infrastructure would have to have had a credit card in order to sign up for the free trial. This offer can be claimed through Microsoft DreamSpark with a verified student account. Students will be able to explore the new Azure App Service and build and deploy websites and web apps using a plethora of languages such as ASP.NET, Java, PHP, Node.js and Python. Here is a full list of services you can use to develop in the cloud at no cost:

Transport and You(th) Hackathon

Tue, 24 Mar 2015 13:45:43 +0000

Are you a maker, a developer, an innovator, an aspiring entrepreneur or a tech-geek? The Transport & You(th) Hackathon is looking for tech-savvy youth, hungry for a social challange. There’s just one objective: Enhance commuter travel experience through use of technology. Make use of rich land transport datasets available at the Hackathon. Team up with your friends to co-create innovative land transport solutions. Think you can make a student’s public transport more entertaining? Want to revolutionize the ecosystem for bus commuters with special needs? Ready to create the next big transport app? This Hackathon is for you. For registration and more information, please visit the official hackathon website.

You're invited: Security Panel on IOT and Enterprise on 9th April 2015

Mon, 23 Mar 2015 04:30:29 +0000

For our security nerds out there, Apvera is hosting a Panel on security this April 9th at Microsoft Singapore! Come join us to hear more about the world of cyber security and the future of how Singapore plays into the world of IOT / SmartNation. Snacks and Schwag to be provided for the cool people.

TOPICS / TALKING POINTS

Innovation in Singapore • Cyber Security on enterprises applications, Wearables and IoT. • Security Challenges in the Workplace • Data Privacy • Using IoT in the workplace • Zero Day • Behavioral Sciences • Machine learning and AI

Windows Hello says "Hello World!" in Windows 10

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:24:53 +0000

Windows Hello is a new feature in Windows 10 that will allow users to sign into their Windows phones, tablets, laptops or personal computers with just a scan of the face, iris, or fingerprint to verify their identity, thus replacing the need for a password or PIN to gain access. Well, first thing that popped into my head: what if someone decides to impersonate me by trying to log on using my picture? Turns out that it’s not going to be that easy to fool Windows Hello! The face recognition engine uses Intel’s RealSense 3D camera and infrared technology to accurately detect and authenticate the user, even in a variety of lighting conditions. Apart from increase in convenience, Windows Hello is also a more secure way of authentication compared to using passwords. In Microsoft’s words:

HERE Expert Community Program - Singapore

Fri, 13 Mar 2015 04:30:45 +0000

About HERE HERE, a Nokia company, is a leader in navigation, mapping and location experiences. We build high-definition (HD) maps and combine them with cloud technology to enable rich, real-time location experiences in a broad range of connected devices - from smartphones and tablets to wearables and vehicles. Leading brands including BMW, Daimler, Microsoft, Samsung and Toyota trust HERE to provide mapping services for their customers. To learn more about us, including our work in the areas of connected and autonomous driving, visit 360.here.com. Nokia’s other business are Nokia Networks, our network infrastructure business and Nokia Technologies, which is focused on technology development and intellectual property rights activities. Through these businesses, Nokia has a global presence, employing around 57,000 people. We are also a major investor in R&D, with investment through the three businesses amounting to more than EUR 2.4 billion in 2014. For more information, visit company.nokia.com. HERE Global Coverage Our expert team of more than 6,000 people in 55 countries creates maps for 196 countries, with voice guided navigation for 119 countries, live traffic information for 44 countries and public transit routing for 971 cities across 51 countries. Where you can find HERE Content HERE maps can be found in four out of five cars in North America and Europe with integrated in-dash navigation. We also power mobile devices, connected devices and enterprise solutions. Leading brands including BMW, Daimler, Microsoft, Samsung and Toyota trust HERE to provide mapping services for their customers. In addition to offering full route planning at here.com, free apps for Android, Nokia X, Samsung Gear, Windows Phone and Windows 8.1 can be downloaded from the appropriate app stores or from here.com/download. HERE Map Creator Ever wonder how Maps are created? HERE Map Creator is a fun tool on here.com that literally lets YOU map out your local neighborhood! You can also use Map Creator to make small edits and additions to existing maps. The tool is super simple to use and your work will be visible to all here.com users after HERE validation checks! Your Map Creator content will also be shared via regular map-data updates for HERE Maps on mobile and web, after HERE validation checks HERE Expert Community Program HERE Expert Community Program is an annual award given out to outstanding members. Map Masters – a prestigious title awarded to only outstanding members of the map communities based on their exceptional map making contributions made during the previous 12 months to HERE Map Expert Community using the HERE Map Creator tool. At HERE, we recognize the vital role these individuals play in the map-making process, adoption and advancement of the map creation technology—and in helping HERE to creating a truly global map so that you will feel like a local, wherever you are. This was the inspiration for the HERE Expert Community Program. Today is a first of a 3-part program series on the HERE Expert Community in Southeast Asia (Part 2 will feature Indonesia and Malaysia and Part 3 will feature Thailand and Philippines) where we are honoring the milestones and amazing community collaboration the group has been cranking out. **SINGAPORE….**Our story so far Singapore’s community membership grew by more than 88% during 2014 and Singapore is a highly urbanized island where most of the roads are navigable by the public. The tertiary institutions and secondary schools were the initial target to grow the community base, as it seemed appropriate and provided an opportunity for the students to do their part and give back to society. Unfortunately, collaborations were unsuccessful due to different demands and challenges. Nonetheless, we are proud of the communities that we have, comprised of individuals who from various backgrounds and all walks of life. Their contributions may not be as high in quantity as some other countries in the region, but quality in the contributions has never been compromised! Four out of five of the HERE Singapore communities members are aged under 30 and most are smartphone users, university and other students, blue and white collar workers. In 2014-5, HERE awarded two top influencers in Singapore with the ‘Map Master’ title, recognizing their excellent contributions. We continue to work with the Map Masters to build our relationship and share ideas. Achievement In late 2014, we organized a 5 day work attachment with Convent of the Holy Infant (CHIJ) Toa Payoh Secondary School. The mission for the work attachment is let the students feel how it is like having to create a map with the highest quality of data. They were exposed to different methods and various techniques to collect navigations on road with our car, collection of point of interests on the field and in shopping malls with the field team, and above all using the Map Creator Tool to “code” in the data they collected over the past few days. Throughout the whole experience, they come to learn how maps are created and maintained and the process of collection to validation and integrating into the map. 2015 and beyond For 2015, the main objective for the HERE Singapore Expert Community Team is connecting all primary, secondary and post-secondary schools to the HERE Expert Community Program. ‘Connecting Schools to the World’ aims to introduce the Map Creator tool as part of the school’s curriculum, expose students to the different methods of collection, techniques and post-processing process and bring a whole new meaning to the word ‘Map’ whenever one holds it in their hand, so that they will truly understand and take into account how everything was perfectly pieced together to reflect reality. Contact For more information about the HERE Singapore Expert Community Program, join https://www.facebook.com/groups/HEREExpertCommunitySingapore or contact sgecpteam@here.com

How to make Cortana to understand your favorite location

Wed, 11 Mar 2015 04:30:38 +0000

How to add Favorite Location for use in Location based reminders by Cortana

Launch the Maps app. Tap on the … menu on the bottom of the Maps app. You would see Favorite places option. Tap that to add your favorite places.

The favorites will have + icon at the bottom of the page. Use the + to add your favorite place.

Once you tap + icon the below screen will appear. Type the place you want it to search. Once you find the place select it from the drop down. This will pop up the next screen for Nick Name.

Should I upgrade to Wireless AC?

Mon, 09 Mar 2015 04:30:38 +0000

Wireless AC or IEEE 802.11ac has been available for quite some time. However, is it time to upgrade to Wireless AC? The following are some factors for you to consider before you make the switch.

Why would you want Wireless AC?

1. Wireless AC runs on 5Ghz.

Currently, 5Ghz has relatively less interference compared to 2.4Ghz. 5Ghz has more channel as well.

2. Extended Channel Binding

The new 80 MHz channel bandwidth allows you to get the maximum speed of 433Mbps for single antenna.

Microsoft Web Camp

Fri, 06 Mar 2015 13:12:01 +0000

What is Web Camp?

Calling all students out there! Do join us for this 1-day Microsoft Web Camp event. Web Camps are free, fun, no-fluff events for developers, by developers. You learn to build cutting edge web sites with the new release of ASP.NET and Web Tools for Visual Studio 2013… and then deploy and scale them with Windows Azure. You will also learn how to deploy and scale your web sites with the cloud.

Draw Visio from Mobile Using Azure Remote App

Fri, 06 Mar 2015 04:30:37 +0000

This blog article describes how to access Azure Remote App from Windows Phone 8.1. Using the remote app feature now you can able to draw Visio diagram from the mobile.

First configure the Azure RemoteApp with your Azure Account. Follow the steps in the URL http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/remoteapp-create-cloud-deployment/

After provisioning the Remote App you can see the publishing applications as below

The new Azure Remote App will have the Url https://www.remoteapp.windowsazure.com/ to login from the desktop client.
Now go to your Windows Phone. Open the Store app and search for the Remote Desktop app. Download the Remote Desktop App to your mobile.

My Windows 10 Technical Preview Experience

Mon, 02 Mar 2015 05:50:04 +0000

I’ve joined the Windows Insider Program and installed a free copy of Windows 10 Technical Preview (Build 9926) for a couple of weeks now. Since then, I’ve been exploring the new Operating System, and I’d like to share some of the new features which impacted me most.

The Start menu is back :)

The most welcomed feature for me is definitely the revival of the Start menu, which is now a hybrid between our familiar Windows 7 style containing our program list and the Live Tiles from Windows 8. It allows users to scroll up and down easily, which functions well on the desktop. The Live Tiles are re-sizable and can be easily customized, which makes it easy for users to obtain updates (such as events on calendar or emails) at a quick glance. While the return of the Start menu is great, however, I found it was a little confusing at first when I tried to search for an app, or type commands such as “cmd” for the command prompt after launching the Start menu, as Cortana tries to steal the limelight by covering the start menu in a haphazard manner. Speaking of the command prompt, I’m really glad that Windows 10 finally allows the standard way of copying and pasting into the command prompt shell using the conventional Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V respectively. On previous versions of Windows, pasting a text or command from the clipboard using Ctrl+V will insert the ^V character, which was really annoying. The way to do it properly then involves a few cumbersome method of right clicking on the title bar for the context menu before selecting the paste option. This may be trivial to many, but to the few geeky folks like myself who often likes working with the shell, it’s a huge increase in productivity.

Usher in the Year of the Goat with Intel-powered devices!

Fri, 20 Feb 2015 04:30:50 +0000

It’s the Lunar New Year and to help you kick start the Year of the Goat with a smash, Intel has put together a handy guide to help pick the right processor for your PCs, tablets, and smartphones. Check it out below, or find a downloadable version here: http://roc.ms/intelcnygg

Go Bold with Lumia Gold this Lunar New Year!

Wed, 18 Feb 2015 20:54:50 +0000

It’s the same slick device with top-notch display and a slew of integrated apps, but enhanced with an auspicious touch. With the Lunar New Year season upon us, enter the Lumia 930 Gold and make a striking statement at your family gathering! The new gold Lumia 930 marks the high-end refresh of the model, with an anodized gold colour marrying sleekness and style. With a sharp crystal clear 5-inch Full HD OLED display, incredible imaging and video qualities from an advanced 20-megapixel PureView camera and seamless integration of Microsoft services, the Lumia 930 offers the best of the Windows Phone 8.1 experience, simultaneously supporting a wide range of third-party apps, such as Instagram, Facebook, and Spotify. It is a smartphone that carries high-end performance and digital functions together with the best of Lumia innovations, accentuated by a subtle gold that adds effortless class. Starting 21 February 2015, Saturday, the new gold Lumia 930 will be retailing in Singapore for SGD699 at Singtel, M1 and Amobile with attractive data plans. The Lumia 930 will be available in black or white, both with a premium gold finish. Here are some other great deals on our devices this Chinese New Year:

Key Lessons from SaaS Business Asia Conference 2015

Fri, 30 Jan 2015 01:24:09 +0000

The first SaaS conference dedicated to businesses in Asia took place on 29th January 2015. It featured numerous panels, fireside chats, workshops, and round table discussions by distinguished industry leaders, including Gary Luton (Salesforce.com), James Fitzgerald (ServiceNow), Cameron Priest (TradeGecko), and Ivan Gomez (Microsoft Office). I was fortunate to be able to attend the conference and pick up a few key lessons along the way. 1. Culture of Transparency. Both panelists, Joel Gascoigne (Buffer) and Jon Yongfook (Beatrix), shared their experiences with promoting transparency in their organizations. Joel advocated mailing lists that fellow employees can subscribe in order to keep track of conversations and to learn from the knowledge being disseminated. There are no issues with accountability (i.e. “you are supposed to read this”) as employees do not have formal titles and the focus is on individuals wanting to take ownership by keep tracking of discussions that mattered to them. On the other hand, Jon focused on work-life balance where employees are expected to follow a routine of completing their work on time so that they are able to take time off to relax on the beach. 2. Increase SaaS market adoption in Asia. Panelists, such as Ivan Gomez (Microsoft Office) and Gary Luton (Salesforce.com), highlighted key issues in adopting SaaS in Asia such as infrastructure and government regulations. However, the key challenge is cultivating trust between SaaS providers and customers. Traditionally, software providers only need to service their customers periodically to renew licenses, and to up-sell and cross-sell products and services. However, with a diverse marketplace and rising customer expectations, SaaS providers are expected to continually demonstrate customer success. They will need to work closely with customers to ensure that their suite of products and services address corporate challenges and deliver value for their businesses. Value can be defined as either reducing costs or increasing profit margins. To facilitate market adoption, SaaS providers can deploy local teams in key markets as they will not be able to fully anticipate how the market will react to their messages. Ivan cited examples of using customized fonts and avoiding the morning traffic as unexpected drivers of SaaS adoption in markets such as Thailand and Indonesia. 3. Beyond $1 Million in Recurring Revenue. James Fitzgerald (ServiceNow) highlighted the difficulty of breaking into the Asian market without a brand and an ecosystem to support SaaS products and services. Generally, Asians are more risk averse which creates difficulty in hiring talents and convincing customers to adopt SaaS. James suggested the use of “5 Whys” to discover the customer’s core issue that is creating a barrier towards change. A “proof of concept” can also be introduced into sales and marketing activities, where customers are encouraged to share their biggest challenge and to invite all stakeholders to participate in product trials. It enables SaaS solutions to “speak for itself” and demonstrate its value to the customers. 4. Best Practices of SaaS Giants. Industry giants, such as Salesforce.com and Anaplan, shared their best practices in SaaS markets. One of the most important practices is to continuously focus on customer trust and success that will help to drive a high level of customer innovation and engagement for the ecosystem. This key factor of success is demonstrated in Anaplan’s rapid expansion into 11 countries within 6 months. The company built upon their ecosystem via an app market and partnerships with SaaS leaders such as Salesforce.com and Blue Jeans. 5. Key Metrics for SaaS Startups. Beside the typical metrics of customer acquisition and retention rates, panelists stressed the importance of MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) as an important measurement of success which can be further broken down into segments (e.g. MRR for new customers and existing customers) to facilitate A/B testing, such as pricing adjustments. However, SaaS startups should devote time and energy to manage these high-level metrics and ensure that they are relevant to employees. Otherwise, these metrics will become a white elephant that is only displayed and mentioned in the presence of management. To avoid this pitfall, SaaS startups can allow each project team to identify and present their own metrics that are important for their customer segments. I enjoyed myself at the conference where I learnt a lot from industry leaders and made various new connections for future collaborations. In my opinion, the conference was a success and I am looking forward to the next edition. What do you think of SaaS Business Asia Conference 2015? Please share your experiences in the comments below and provide your suggestions on the next event that we should cover.

Cortana – Useful Commands and App Integration

Wed, 28 Jan 2015 04:30:58 +0000

I use Cortana a lot to do some of the reminder tasks and the activation of Apps. Nowadays there are several apps which are integrated with Cortana for the easy access. Some of the frequently used commands are below

Action to do

Cortana

Setup Required?

Set a reminder

Remind me to Water the plant at 10 am

No setup required

Set alarm

Wake me up at 8 am

Set reminder based on location

Windows 10: A New Generation of Windows

Mon, 26 Jan 2015 04:30:00 +0000

Windows 10: A New Generation of Windows

Windows 10 to be offered as free upgrade; group computing and holographic Windows 10 devices unveiled.

REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 21, 2015 — Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday unveiled a new generation of Windows, with a wide range of experiences designed to usher in a new era of more personal computing, as well as two new devices designed to extend the Windows experience from large screens to no screens. Windows 10 will be delivered as a service to offer a safer, innovative and updated experience for the supported lifetime of the device. A free upgrade¹ for Windows 10 will be made available to customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1, who upgrade in the first year. “Windows 10 marks the beginning of the more personal computing era in the mobile-first, cloud-first world,” said Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft. “Our ambition is for the 1.5 billion people who are using Windows today to fall in love with Window 10 and for billions more to decide to make Windows home.”

Students: Attend Microsoft Build Developer Conference 2015 for FREE!

Thu, 22 Jan 2015 06:52:33 +0000

Registration is right around the corner for Microsoft’s premier developer conference, Build 2015. It’s a 3-day conference held in San Francisco from the 29th of April to the 1st of May, 2015, with registration costing USD 2095 - but if you’re a student who wants to attend, you’re in luck! As long as you can provide proof that you’re a current, full-time student (at the time of Build), you’ll be eligible to get a free ticket (on a first-come-first-serve basis) to Build 2015 by registering your interest by emailing build@eventcore.com. This complimentary ticket will only cover the cost of the conference and not any travel or accommodation. If you’re going, do let us know at win8sg@microsoft.com!

Hide Private Apps when you give your phone to someone

Thu, 22 Jan 2015 04:30:33 +0000

Windows Phone 8.1 comes with one of the nice feature which is called App Corner. App Corner allows to select only the app which a person allowed to see in the Phone. This feature is very useful when you give a phone to someone to just see or give them to just make a call. It allows to hide all the private apps and pictures from viewing to the person you giving the phone to. Example: Sometime some of my friend might ask me to give the phone to just make a call to someone if their phone is not working. So at that time if we unlock the phone and give them they might sneak into whatsapp message, pictures and other private apps. To avoid that i set up the App corner and allow only Phone feature to be visible and give it to them.

System Center Universe 2015 APAC

Wed, 14 Jan 2015 04:30:51 +0000

Over the past 3 years, System Center Universe APAC has attracted attendees throughout the APAC region. Being the only event that is centred on System Center, the team running the event has made a decision to host several viewing parties throughout APAC in the second year. These parties made registration for the second year double. SCU 2014 was even better and bigger although it did not have the viewing parties. It played host to more than 200 registered participants with international renown speakers. These speakers are well-known in the industry and are regulars at Tech Ed. SCU 2015 APAC will be hosted in Singapore and promises to bring more excitement to the audience as not only will it have amazing demos and updates on System Center, globally recognized speakers will host sessions on Cloud technologies as well. We believe that the SCU brand has grown over the years and having your presence at the event will make it even more exciting as we work together to drive awareness to the region. For more information, visit http://www.systemcenteruniverse.asia/.

.NET Developers Community 2nd Meetup Will Share On Developing Web

Wed, 14 Jan 2015 00:00:58 +0000

The .NET Developers Community Singapore will have the second meetup. Join the community and meetup. This month the community will share on developing web using .NET. The event will be at *SCAPE The Colony on January 28, 2015, 7.00 PM - 9.00 PM. If you want to know or learn .NET, this community is the best place for you. [caption id=“attachment_19000” align=“aligncenter” width=“722”] *SCAPE The Colony[/caption] Here is the details; http://www.meetup.com/NET-Developers-SG/events/219106052/ Lucky member can win one Western Digital Passport Ultra 1TB (White) door prize for free.

Join Azure Community Singapore (ACS)

Tue, 13 Jan 2015 09:22:05 +0000

Hi All, I would like to invite you to join this Azure Community in Singapore. We will be having the first meetup on February 10. If you want to meet the Microsoft Azure experts, masters, developers, Microsoft MVPs and wants to be friends with them and can learn/share knowledge, than this is the place to be. Come and join this first meetup and bring your friends as well so you be able to know the Azure community member in Singapore. Here is the Agenda for the meetup:

Microsoft Virtual Academy Events and Courses to Check Out

Mon, 12 Jan 2015 06:32:03 +0000

There are a slew of new courses on Microsoft Virtual Academy relating to Azure IaaS for IT Pros and upcoming Live Events on Azure Websites and C++/DirectX Game Development. Check them out below!

Azure IaaS for IT Pros

Missed the live streams from the 1st of 4th of December? The streams from the four days have now been made available on MVA and offer the following content (which are great if you’re studying for Microsoft Certification Exam 70-533): Establish the Foundation: Core IaaS Infrastructure Technical Fundamentals

Announcing the Imagine Cup Singapore 2015 Top 16 Semi-Finalist

Mon, 12 Jan 2015 06:28:48 +0000

Hello fellow students, Thank you for your proposal submission. Here are the top 16 teams (in team name order) who have been short listed for the Round 1 Proposal Submission, and will be moving on to the Semi-Finals

Team

Name

3DiMS

Blue Monocle

Concept Crew

Easy Bus Trips

DevelopToServe

Constellation Tele-care System

eSpeech Therapists

Electronic Speech Therapist

Fay Huang

Smart Walking Stick

Follow Me

Why is the world in love with Docker?

Mon, 22 Dec 2014 06:00:34 +0000

There is a feeding frenzy when it comes to buzzwords and “Docker” has now become THAT GUY. If you’ve been subscribing to technology blogs, there’s been an active trend with this new buzzword: docker. The cool kids on the block now seem to revolve around anything “Docker” related. There’s even a local Meet-up Group popping up with event #2 under their belt. The momentum is growing and in fact, even large tech giants like Azure and Amazon Web Services just announced their support behind it not too long ago. Not to be outdone by their industrious cousins, startups that are flocking to Docker are making the VC’s fall in love with them, bringing their founders million dollar valuations seemingly overnight!. So what the heck is Docker and why should I care? Background: Docker is actually an open-source project, written in GO (developed by the G-men of Google, born out of their hate of C++) to do one simple thing: ship applications faster. And the cool part is that this drastically changes all the ways we did things in the past. The problem: There is an inherent issue with how we work with the hardware and software. Applications are tied to an Operating System, and because of this, you can’t simply just move an app from one place to another without a whole lot of stuff that happens by the tech guys. Think back to moving your application icons from the desktop of a computer to a new computer…never worked for you did it? And for good reason! & solution: So what Docker did was they created a portable “container” to do just that! Move your applications without having to worry about where it’s running. What this means for the engineers & developers out there, is that they can use any language they prefer and push, pull, move back and forth to any server in be it cloud or virtual/physical machines. Translation: Engineers can focus on developing applications and can get it to your business or users faster because they no longer have to worry about the “back room” stuff. The future: The current eco-system that supports Docker as of today lists some of the big giants like Google and our friends at Microsoft. But not to be outdone, there are some recent startups focused on this as well, even here in Singapore. Specifically… us, Apvera! Stay tuned as we share our process on integrating new tech to solve old problems on our blog. In the mean time, check out a local startup event in the area on docker and try to run into us. For more info go to apvera.com Connect with Paul on

.NET Developers Community Singapore

Thu, 18 Dec 2014 05:27:48 +0000

Hi there, We would like to invite you all to join the .NET Developers Community Singapore.The community is for anyone who are passionate/interested in developing software application in .NET ecosystem and its related technologies. If you happen to be a C#, WPF, ASP.NET, WebAPI 2.1, SignalR, Roslyn, Microsoft Azure, server-side, .NET enthusiast, etc. the community is certainly for you and you should join in. Development using .NET is very exciting, easy and it’s open-source now. We welcome to all developers for the new era of .NET related development and for non .NET developers as well. Try .NET. .NET Core in Linux and Mac The .NET Core project is under the stewardship of the .NET Foundation. We believe that to be a critical part in promoting and advancing the .NET Core stack. You can create all of back-end codes and client side using C# and .NET for cross-platform and multi-platform (Xamarin, Unity 3D, Mono, etc.). One framework, one language that works for all platform and devices.

Techology & Education: Bett Asia Leadership Summit 2014

Mon, 08 Dec 2014 06:45:08 +0000

Bett has been the global meeting place for the education technology community, as seen by many of its world-class events. This time, Bett has brought its mission to promote the discovery of technology and knowledge to enhance lifelong learning, to Singapore - Asia’s meeting place for education decision makers. Nonetheless, it was exciting to see some big names up there such as Intel, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, who were dishing out their takes on how technology can be used, adapted and even innovated to better help the learners of today and the future. Along them, many other technology companies and organisations were also putting their take into the mindshare that is technology-aided education. [caption id=“attachment_18933” align=“aligncenter” width=“2048”] Microsoft asks conference attendees to write down: What’s The Future of Education To You?[/caption] Many quotes were passed around, including bold statements such as:

Learning Javascript API for Office

Sun, 30 Nov 2014 07:30:56 +0000

Did you know you could build apps for Office? Microsoft already created a JavaScript API tutorial for Office in the form of an app, a long while ago. Really, what the app teaches you are the basic development tasks by letting you interactively run and edit JavaScript code directly in Microsoft Excel! You can start running the tutorial online, but make sure that you’re running at least Internet Explorer 9, Safari 5.0.6, Firefox 5, Chrome 13, or a later version of one of these browsers. If not, you can also download a Windows App version of the tutorial, that will run Microsoft Excel directly, from the Windows Store. [caption id=“attachment_18920” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”] Javascript API Napa Tutorial[/caption] Now when we mean basic, the tutorial itself covers: reading and writing text, ranges, tables (including updating data in a table), getting and setting coordinates, and most importantly, making persistent settings. As a bonus, the app allows online access to all tutorials using the “Napa” Office 365 Development Tools too. Also if you didn’t know, because the API Tutorial app references the jQuery library (version 1.7.1), you can also use jQuery in your script! When you run the app from the Excel Web App (and because script is running in the context of the browser you opened it with), most JavaScript supported by that browser should run as well. Neat, huh? If you want a total walkthrough on learning the Javascript API tutorial, you can find out more on the Microsoft Apps for Office and SharePoint blog.

Intel's Future Showcase

Mon, 24 Nov 2014 05:00:25 +0000

Today’s inventions and innovations can change the world of tomorrow, and Intel’s no stranger to that ideal. Having significantly contributed to these changes through their own innovation and research in various areas of technology, Intel’s labs and research locations around the globe have been their driving force. This brings us to the Intel Future Showcase exhibition, which made its way to Singapore last Friday. Partners, influencers and media were given the opportunity to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey into the future. Having been exposed to the interesting insights into the technologies of today, it’s been breathtaking to first-handily experience the technology that will change how we live, work and play in the land of tomorrow. [caption id=“attachment_18910” align=“aligncenter” width=“1368”] Intel’s Concepts of The Future, being demonstrated to partners and media alike.[/caption] Starting with “Today”, Intel showcases its fodder of typical tablets powered by their technology, and more interestingly, their take on devices meant for education. These tables are lightweight, made of kid-proof tough plastic (though honestly, kids will find a way) and bundled with a myriad of other built-in peripherals - this including, a back-facing camera with the ability to turn into a fairly sharp microscope, via the attachment of a purposefully made, cheap plastic lens. The essential factor that Intel is playing here, is that the price tag on many of these devices, make them highly accessible for people to pick up. [caption id=“attachment_18909” align=“aligncenter” width=“1368”] Here, Intel Engineers show off some of Intel’s line of tablets for consumers.[/caption] We then move to “Tomorrow”, where we see Intel’s acquisition of Basis Science, come to light with their strategy to shoot into the wearables market by learning how people would interact with the technology, and how well onboard sensors do. Other than the typical pulse, gyroscope and pedometer sensors, additional sensors that check sweat and temperature have also been included, definitely being an ode to Intel’s thirst for gathering data to find better ways to analyze them. Alongside it, Intel RealSense was another notable showcase on its own, where normal built-in camera hardware for laptops and tablets, have been revolutionised to understand depth to become 3D scanners and on-the-fly, gesture-controlled MIDI interpreters. [caption id=“attachment_18908” align=“aligncenter” width=“1368”] Here, an Intel Engineer is explaining the concepts behind this Maker Project.[/caption] Finally, we enter the “Future”, where Intel puts its focus on an interactive environment, where Intel Engineers explain the assortment of physically hacked together contraptions and maker projects. One engineer explains the concept behind a curiously shaped food-net, that has been converted into a proximity musical synthesizer, producing music based on the distance of a group of five’s hands from a series of ultrasonic sensors. Another explains the genius behind a color-sensitive, imaging sensor with potential applications to help the colorblind and construction workers through the color zones. Behind all of these amazing maker projects, is the Intel Galileo development board - the computational brain powering them. [caption id=“attachment_18907” align=“aligncenter” width=“1368”] A picture of an Intel Galileo Board on display, at the Intel Future Showcase.[/caption] The highlights of the showcase culminate in a fully-built smart-city, smart-car demonstration, where Intel tells its story of how the Internet-of-things and smart technology can be put into the dashboard of a smart car, to give a new perspective on car sharing, personal recommendations, emotional sensing and dynamic environmental awareness. Wireless technologies too have never been better, with Intel demoing its wireless charging principles and prototype technologies in a world, where electricity is as free-moving as information itself. What a world to be living in where all you need to do, is look inside.

Startup Feature: BridgingMinds Founder, Nicholas

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 04:30:50 +0000

In the next installment of our Startup and Developer feature series, Spiffy talks to Nicholas Yong, the founder of BridgingMinds, a BizSpark startup. BridgingMinds is a Singapore startup with a recent unique take on online learning systems for companies called LeanersHive. I’ll leave it to Nicholas to tell you more!

Describe yourself in three words. Why?

Never say DIE! As an entrepreneur and startup, we are constantly finding way to gain acceptance of our new products and services to our clients. It is an up hill battle and many may fall due to the many factors. Strength of character and never say die attitude is what keeps us going strong and listening to our clients on what’s need to be done.

Join us for a day of Azure Discovery in November and December 2014

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 02:00:49 +0000

Join us, De-Mystify Azure and the Cloud

Microsoft would like to invite you to a one-day Azure Discovery seminar. At this event, you will experience the versatility of the Azure platform, and observe practical benefits that could rapidly transform your own IT projects. Leading cloud experts from Microsoft will show you a platform that is equally valuable to open source and .NET developers and IT professionals—in fact, most components are already available via GitHub. You will discover how to build hybrid on-premise and third-party cloud services, so you can quickly create powerful and compelling new capabilities.

Community Technology Update 2014

Wed, 05 Nov 2014 05:50:04 +0000

The Singapore Windows User Group, Singapore DotNet User Group and Singapore PowerShell User Group have come together to organize the 11th Community Technology Update. This will take place on the 15th of November, 2014, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at Microsoft Singapore’s Auditorium. See below and this link for more information and to sign up.

Date

15th November 2014

Time

0900 – 1730 hrs (Registration opens 08:30) (Networking Event starts at 18:00)

Microsoft Startup Partner of the Year Awards 2014

Wed, 05 Nov 2014 03:00:59 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_18832” align=“aligncenter” width=“960”] Clearly the coolest table at the awards ceremony[/caption] The annual Microsoft Partner Awards were held on the evening of 29 October, at the grand ballroom of One Farrer Hotel & Spa - a hotel so spanking new that the taxi uncle didn’t know it existed and got a bit lost trying to get there. Spiffy location aside, it was a night of honouring the many diverse partners Microsoft works with, from resellers to retailers, customers to vendors. Of course, my obvious bias was towards the gathering of BizSpark startup partners. Clearly we were one of the tables with a much (ahem) younger demographic, and though the fried rice I was waiting for on the dinner menu was slightly dry in the end - it was a good opportunity to catch up with the goings-on of some of our brightest Singapore BizSpark stars. Here goes my shameless plug for all four of them.

Become a better software professional at Agile Singapore Conference 2014

Tue, 04 Nov 2014 10:30:20 +0000

Happening on the 12-14 November at Marina Bay Sands, the second annual Agile Singapore Conference will feature three days of learning and interactions with some of the world’s most insightful and experienced Product developers. This year’s conference features world-class keynotes by Linda Rising on “The Power of an Agile mindset”, Dave Snowden on “Enabling the organisation as a complex eco-system” and Richard Sheridan on “Build a Workplace People Love - Just Add Joy”. The programme also features workshops and lectures conducted by world-class contributors including James Grenning, co-author of the Agile Manifesto, Rachel Davies, Michael Feathers, Kevlin Henney, Bas Vodde and Steve Freeman. With over 35 sessions in Organisation Agility, Agile Project Management and Technical Practices, the Agile Singapore Conference brings together together a truly exceptional group of enthusiastic Agile practitioners from around the world! Check out the full programmes schedule here: http://2014.agilesingapore.org/programme.html Get your tickets at: http://2014.agilesingapore.org

Microsoft MVP Community Camp - Live Webcasts

Fri, 31 Oct 2014 03:15:50 +0000

Join us for the Microsoft MVP Community Camp (ComCamp), a series of ICT seminars delivered by the technical experts, a.k.a. Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs), and other technical community leaders in 5 languages and 11 countries, for all IT consumers and the communities.

Unlimited Storage with Office 365 on OneDrive

Wed, 29 Oct 2014 03:43:24 +0000

Microsoft has announced that all Office 365 subscribers will start receiving unlimited OneDrive storage space. This feature will be rolling out to subscribers over the next few months and will first come to Office 365 Home, Personal and University subscribers. OneDrive is available on most platforms with the Windows Phone and Android versions of the app getting major updates recently. Mobile users can use OneDrive to automatically upload photos they have taken to the cloud, great for backing up files or having them synced across devices. If you have not received this feature and would like to get it faster, you’ll want to visit this page. For more information, check out the OneDrive Blog and Office Blog.

Imagine Cup Singapore 2015

Fri, 24 Oct 2014 08:09:57 +0000

Microsoft’s premier student technology competition, Imagine Cup, returns for its 13th year with three big competitions: Games, Innovation and World Citizenship. You could win a trip to compete in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., the home of Microsoft for the coveted Imagine Cup trophy and $50,000.

Imagine Cup Timeline:

29 October 2014: Pitch Video
3 December 2014: Online Blueprint
7 January 2014: User Experience Challenge
April 2015: Singapore Finals

Get your team together, learn about the competitions, and write out your proposal (sample attached), and email us at chunsiong.tan(AT)microsoft(DOT)com!

Skype Launches New App - Skype Qik

Thu, 16 Oct 2014 04:30:28 +0000

Microsoft has announced a brand new standalone app from Skype - Skype Qik. Skype Qik is a video messaging app that was created specifically for spontaneous video messaging for group or 1:1 chats. The app runs alongside Skype, and allows users to share videos which are only stored for two weeks. Skype Qik is now available on Windows Phone, Android and iPhone. For more information about Skype Qik, please check out the Skype Big Blog here.

UnityVS: Visual Studio as an alternative for developing Unity Games

Wed, 15 Oct 2014 04:30:55 +0000

What is UnityVS?

Building a Unity Game but looking for an alternative IDE to develop in? Look no further as UnityVS might be a solution for you. Developing games on the Unity Game Engine has traditionally restricted developers to just Monodevelop IDE. Recently, the creator of UnityVS, SyntaxTree, was acquired by Microsoft and together that had improved on UnityVS to provide an alternative development environment to game developers. UnityVS enables Unity developers to take advantage of the productivity of Visual Studio to code and debug their Unity applications in a more sophisticated C# development environment. It can support Visual Studio 2010 and newer versions. To learn more about Unity Game Engine, do visit Unity website at https://unity3d.com/

Microsoft ModernBiz: Re-imagine Finance & Marketing Events

Tue, 14 Oct 2014 04:30:08 +0000

Microsoft ModernBiz: Re-imagine Finance Event Date: Wednesday, 5 November 2014 Time: 8.00am to 1.00pm (Registration starts at 8.00am) Event Venue: Microsoft Auditorium, Level 21 Address: One Marina Boulevard, 1 Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018989 Who should attend: Finance Directors, Financial Controllers, Head of Department, Finance Professionals, Bankers, Operations Managers, Finance Executives. With economic uncertainty, globalization and intense competition, there’s been an increasing pressure on the finance function to play a more strategic role in the business. There’s a perceptible change in emphasis from traditional scorekeeping and cost control to value creation and business partnering. In a constantly shifting business environment, there’s a need to manage complexity to deal with new threats and seize opportunities than ever before. In particular, the rise of digital technology presents the finance function with new and unique tools to rise to these challenges. It represents opportunities for the finance function to increase its strategic influence as well as meet the digital needs of a new generation of young finance professionals which it aims to attract and retain. In addition, the right technology can be a major differentiator for finance professionals from small and midsize businesses. Modernizing your IT can set you apart from your competitors, whatever size they may be. In fact, a study from Boston Consulting Group found that technology leaders—defined as businesses who adopt new technology early—far outperform their peers in the marketplace. ModernBiz Event Topics:

Microsoft’s We Tech Care Open House

Mon, 13 Oct 2014 16:10:53 +0000

Come 1 November 2014, Microsoft Singapore will launch the all-new We Tech Care initiative in line with its ongoing support of the President’s Challenge. The new initiative goes beyond regular fundraising activities by combining the volunteering of time and technology expertise by Microsoft employees, with fundraising efforts, to empower people through technology. To celebrate the launch of the We Tech Care initiative, Microsoft Singapore will holding a We Tech Care Open House on Saturday, 1 November 2014 at One Marina Boulevard. This complimentary public event brings together a committed group of volunteers which includes Microsoft employees, President’s Challenge representatives, partners as well as beneficiaries SPD (formerly the Society for the Physically Disabled) and RSVP (The Organisation of Senior Volunteers) who are volunteering their time to conduct IT-related workshops, activities and games for all members of the public. President Tony Tan Keng Yam will also be gracing the event, where he will participate in fun-filled activities and the We Tech Care launch ceremony to present certificates of appreciation to Microsoft Singapore and its partners for their support of the President’s Challenge. The day’s programme features a variety of IT-related workshops, activities and games for families including parents, children, teenagers and grand-parents. These include:

Photography Guide - PASM & EV

Fri, 10 Oct 2014 02:20:07 +0000

If you have a DSLR, you must have seen the mode dial with 4 letters P, A/Av, S/Tv, M. So what does that mean?

P - Program Mode Basically, it means auto. Camera will set everything for you. A - Aperture Priority This mode lets you decide how much background blur (bokeh) you have. If you look at your camera, there is a setting with “F” follow by a number. Example: “F8”, “F2.8”, “F2”. The smaller the number, the more background blur you have. This is the most commonly used mode. If you want to know how to do bokehlicious photo. Please watch [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDcS4zN92rA “How Do You “Do” Bokeh?”). If you don’t want the introduction part, just jump straight to [2:43.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDcS4zN92rA&t=2m43s “How Do You “Do” Bokeh?”) S - Shutter Priority This mode lets you control the shutter speed. High shutter speed allows you to freeze moving subject and slow shutter speed allows you to take special photos like light trail photography. This mode is usually used in situation with lots of movements and you want to “freeze” them without motion blur. They are usually displayed in 1/X if the speed is less than 1sec and X" if the speed is more than 1 sec. A rough guide for everyone. To prevent motion blur, the minimum shutter speed I will recommend are as followed. Stationary group shots - 1/25 Moving people (Walking/Presenting) - 1/60 Running man - 1/125 Moving car - 1/250 Of course these do not work all the time, take more photos and you will slowly understand how it works. M - Manual Mode Well….. this is the most complicated mode. This mode required you to set aperture and shutter speed by yourself. Unlike the other modes, they will auto adjust the rest of the setting to adapt the different brightness condition. However, this mode allows you to achieve the most amazing photo effect.

Flipboard arrives on Windows Phone

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 04:30:20 +0000

With Flipboard on Windows Phone, you can now create personalized magazines with stories that interest you most. Just start by picking a few of your favorite topics, like tech, EPL and yoga, and Flipboard will start building your custom magazine from a variety of sources including The New York Times, People magazine and more. Read something interesting? You can also add it to your collection or share it on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Flipboard can be loaded on devices with at least 1GB of RAM such as the Lumia 830, Lumia 920, Lumia 1020 and Lumia 1520. You can download Flipboard for Windows Phone via this link.

Azure Discovery Training

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 09:50:15 +0000

What is this training about?

Discover Microsoft’s Cloud offering of the Azure platform with close to 60 different services spanning Infrastructure services, Platform Services, Identity Services, Data Services and Application Services. With Azure platform, the core is the Developer, IT Professional and Architects, hence we shall showcase Open Source and Microsoft technologies in this theme based demos for various scenarios that utilize more than one of the above Azure Services.

Level up your Microsoft Account with Microsoft Account Android App

Fri, 03 Oct 2014 04:30:32 +0000

Some of you might have heard of 2-Step Verification. Google has their Google Authenticator. Well….. Microsoft now has our own authenticator app for the Android users. It’s called Microsoft account!!! One sentence to sum it up: It is awesome! For Google Authenticator, we have to remember the dynamic 6 digit code which changes every 30s. If you are using Microsoft account app, all you need to remember is where you put your phone! (LOL) When you open the Microsoft account app, you will only see requests. If previously you had logged in but didn’t complete the 2-Step Verification. You can see that there will be a login request with the approve request. With this, you are able to track if there is a suspicious activity going on in your Microsoft account. Big plus for this feature. To log in using Microsoft account app is even easier. Once you sign in to the Microsoft account, it will display an approve request code which you can check with your phone. If the approve request code on your phone is the same as the one shown in the browser, go ahead and approve it! Wait! There is one special thing. If you are using your phone at the same time (Facebook-ing/Twitter-ing), you don’t even have to enter the Microsoft account app! Just go to the notification and there is the “approve” or “deny” option for you to reply the request. THIS IS SO BRILLIANT. What if your phone doesn’t have an internet connection? It is alright. At the bottom, there is an option for you to use the traditional dynamic number code to login. Both Google Authenticator and Microsoft account app have multiple account support. Since Microsoft account app is so much better than Google Authenticator, does it mean that I can delete Google Authenticator app? Well……. The answer is NO! There is one thing that Google Authenticator does better than Microsoft account app. That’s third party app support. Web service such as Dropbox uses Google Authenticator to generate the dynamic login code. Without Google Authenticator, you will not be able to use the 2-Step Verification unless you opt for SMS / Email one time password. So Microsoft listen up!!! Please start developing for third party support! Personally, I hate to have 2 application that does the similar job. It just pisses me off when that happens (thanks to the awesome Lungic XD).

Windows 10 Unveiled

Wed, 01 Oct 2014 10:19:20 +0000

Microsoft Unveils the Future of Windows

Company gives first look at Windows 10, highlighting enterprise advancements and open collaboration

SAN FRANCISCO — Sept. 30, 2014 — Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday unveiled its next Windows operating system, Windows 10, and gave a first look at an early technical preview for the PC available Oct. 1. The announcement highlighted advancements designed for business, including an updated user experience and enhanced security and management capabilities. The company also introduced the Windows Insider Program, kicking off its largest-ever open collaborative development effort to change the way Windows is built and delivered to best meet the needs of customers. Program participants will receive the technical preview of Windows 10 and a steady stream of builds through the development cycle to use and give feedback on. “Windows 10 represents the first step of a whole new generation of Windows, unlocking new experiences to give customers new ways to work, play and connect,” said Terry Myerson, executive vice president of the Operating Systems group at Microsoft. “This will be our most comprehensive operating system and the best release Microsoft has ever done for our business customers, and we look forward to working together with our broader Windows community to bring Windows 10 to life in the months ahead.” Windows 10: familiarity and consistency across devices Windows 10 adapts to the devices customers are using — from Xbox to PCs and phones to tablets and tiny gadgets — and what they’re doing with a consistent, familiar and compatible experience, enabling even greater productivity. Windows 10 will run across the broadest range of devices ever from the Internet of Things to enterprise datacenters worldwide. Microsoft is also delivering a converged application platform for developers on all devices with a unified app store. Developers will be able to write an application once and deploy it easily across multiple device types, making discovery, purchase and updating easier than ever for customers. Windows 10: designed for the challenges of modern business Windows 10 builds nearly everything that businesses need right into the core of the product — including enterprise-grade security, identity and information protection features — in ways that can reduce complexities and provide better experiences than other solutions. One area of advancement is in the work Microsoft has done with user identities to improve resistance to breach, theft or phishing. Windows 10 will also help advance data loss prevention by using containers and data separation at the application and file level, enabling protection that follows the data as it goes from a tablet or PC to a USB drive, email or the cloud. Management and deployment have been simplified to help lower costs, including in-place upgrades from Windows 7 or Windows 8 that are focused on making device wipe-and-reload scenarios obsolete. Businesses will also have the flexibility to choose how quickly they adopt the latest innovations and influence continued improvements. In addition, organizations will be able to customize an app store specific to their needs and environment. The intent is an app store that will allow for volume app licensing, flexible distribution, and the ability for organizations to reclaim or reuse licenses when necessary. Technical preview PC productivity The early technical preview of Windows 10 demonstrates new levels of flexibility, navigation and familiarity through the Windows experience. Features include these:

Deploy a Website in 10 minutes using Dropbox and Azure

Mon, 29 Sep 2014 04:30:30 +0000

It only takes 10 minutes to deploy your website with Azure. Free distinction for everyone! Just follow the guide below. What do you need? 1. A Microsoft Account with Azure! (Hey! Microsoft gives you a 30 day free trial) 2. A Dropbox Account (Free 2GB account is more than enough) 3. A folder with all the developed HTML/PHP/JavaScript/CSS files (Make sure they can run on local host to save your 30 days free trial) 4. 10 mins of your time Alright! Let’s start!

Fans Celebrate the Launch of Xbox One

Fri, 26 Sep 2014 04:30:01 +0000

Xbox One Singapore: Fans celebrate the launch of Xbox One in Singapore

Xbox’s biggest ever launch in Singapore
Xbox fan Aw Jeng Kit, 18, lines up for more than 19 hours
Xbox One paints Funan DigitaLife Mall in green
Xbox One on sale in over 150 stores nationwide

On the 23rd of September, Singapore officially welcomed the Xbox One at 1300hrs. The event kicked off with pre-order collection amongst the mass of over 500 fans as they turned Funan DigitaLife Mall into a sea of green. Funan DigitaLife Mall came to a standstill as fans and employees of Xbox welcomed a new generation in gaming and entertainment. The console launch will continue into the evening as invited fans battle it out in the sky onboard the Singapore Flyer. The iconic landmark will light up Singapore’s skyline with the Xbox’s signature green – leaving its mark as the next generation entertainment console. Hanson Yap, Marketing Manager, Interactive Entertainment Business, and Microsoft, Singapore, said: “The feedback from our fans in Singapore has been overwhelming. We are on track to making this the biggest ever Xbox launch in history in Singapore. Today marks a historic day for us and our fans.” Only on Xbox One this holiday will gamers be able to create Car Clubs of up to 1,000 members and race through a wide-open world featuring the stunning landscapes of Southern Europe in “Forza Horizon 2”, relive the complete story of a legendary hero in “Halo: The Master Chief Collection”, explore, scavenge and fight to survive in a world overrun by zombies in “Dead Rising 3”, join Ori, the last spirit guardian, as he discovers the mysteries of a dying forest in a beautiful coming-of-age story in “Ori and the Blind Forest”, and dive into the mayhem of Sunset City in “Sunset Overdrive”. Also available on Xbox One this holiday season are highly anticipated blockbusters like “Assassin’s Creed: Unity”, “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare”, and “EA SPORTS FIFA 15”. Fans can also look forward to the StarHub TV Anywhere app, where users will be able to access an exciting library of content, unique to the Xbox One. “The games industry is evolving and growing fast, and we are proud to have Singaporean gamers help drive the new Xbox One era. Our commitment is that we will at least have 50 games this holiday with 20 of them being exclusive to the Xbox platform which makes it the biggest console launch line up in Singapore,” added Hanson Yap. Xbox One is the only console that lets you play award-winning games with your family and friends. And only on Xbox One can you instantly switch between all of your entertainment and enjoy breakthrough technology like the 1080p Kinect HD Sensor. Xbox One is now on sale across Asia following simultaneous launches in cities including Seoul, Hong Kong, and Taipei.

Lumia 830 Now Available In Singapore

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 10:23:20 +0000

Lumia 830 Now Available In Singapore

Bringing flagship style and performance to more people with integrated Microsoft experiences and superior PureView imaging

25 September 2014, Singapore Microsoft today announced the availability of the affordable flagship Lumia 830 in Singapore for SGD529. With a premium design, superior PureView imaging and integrated Microsoft services, Lumia 830 makes high-end innovation more affordable. With from the best of Windows Phone 8.1, and packing the very best Lumia innovations including Wireless Charging, Optimized Image Stabilization and SensorCore into an ultra-sleek package, the Lumia 830 delivers:

No more yearly renewal for Windows Developer Center accounts

Fri, 19 Sep 2014 07:41:34 +0000

Always thinking whether it is a good time to consider investing in Windows or Windows Phone development? Now you have an extra incentive for jumping on the bandwagon. Starting this week, developers do not have to renew their subscription for the Windows Developer Center. Previously Windows Developer Center requires developers to pay USD19 every year to continue publishing apps on the Windows Store and the Windows Phone Store. Now, only a one-time payment during registration is needed when new developers sign up for the program. For more information, you can check out the Windows’s Blog. If you are interested to find out more about how to develop for Windows or Windows Phone, you may want to check out Microsoft Virtual Academy. There is a loads of tutorials and courses to make your development easier! Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below about what you think!

Discovering TechFest 2014

Fri, 19 Sep 2014 05:41:47 +0000

6th September 2014 saw one of the largest gathering of technologists, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts at SCAPE for TechFest 2014. People from all walks of life came together to share their experiences and passion for technology, and to inspire and encourage each other to continue doing what we love. The event featured various talks by over 20 distiniguished speakers, such as Mr Tan Min Liang (Razer Co-founder), Mr Sergio Salvador (Google - Global Head Games Partnerships), Mr Bunnie Huang (Kosagi - Co-Founder), Mr Aaron Gill (GrabTaxi - Head of Product), and Mr Tan Chun Siong (Microsoft - Technical Evangelist). A gallery of notable technology organizations, groups, and startups were also present to showcase their latest tech offerings and share their personal journeys in the industry, such as Autodesk, Carousell, and Garena. I absolutely enjoyed myself at the event, catching up with old friends while meeting new ones and sharing our passion for the industry. The sold-out event was a resounding success and a testament to the thriving tech community in Singapore. Kudos to the organizers of the event and a special thank you to everyone who participated in TechFest 2014! What do you think of TechFest 2014? Please share your experiences in the comments below and provide your suggestions on the next event that we should cover.

How to activate free Azure credits for BizSpark

Thu, 04 Sep 2014 10:47:57 +0000

So you’ve signed up for and gotten approved for BizSpark; the next step is to activate your Azure credits so you can start running backend stuff for your app. Here are 7 steps to activate your free monthly USD150 worth of Azure benefits.

1) Primary user logs on to BizSpark

2) Click on ‘My Benefits’ > ‘Microsoft Azure’ > ‘How do I get it.’

3) Clicking on ‘My Account’ will bring you to the MSDN Subscription page, where first-time users need to activate their accounts by clicking on “Activate your account” link

Surface Pro 3 arrives in Singapore

Thu, 28 Aug 2014 09:07:34 +0000

Surface Pro 3 arrives in Singapore

Microsoft-commissioned survey shows that changing consumer needs are driving Singapore’s demand for more powerful and versatile devices like Surface Pro 3

Singapore — Aug. 28, 2014 — Microsoft Singapore today announced retail availability of Surface Pro 3 in Singapore. The latest in the Surface lineup, Surface Pro 3 is a lightweight tablet that delivers the power and performance of a laptop. Customers in Singapore can buy any of the Surface Pro 3 Intel® Core™ i3, i5 or i7 models at MicrosoftStore.com, selected retailers and authorized commercial resellers. Surface Pro 3 arrives as consumers are increasingly looking for more powerful devices to be more productive at work and leisure. In a recently commissioned survey of 300 working professionals¹ in Singapore, 53% of respondents said that they are no longer desk-bound at work. In addition, 76% of working professionals in Singapore own three or more types of devices, and 38% of respondents carry both their tablet and laptop with them at all times. In a world where true convergence of digital work and life has become pervasive, consumers are increasingly turning to hybrid² or laptop devices to meet their needs. In some work scenarios like presentations or communications, a tablet is being used as well. However, 50 percent of respondents felt that they would get the best experience for both work and play from a hybrid or laptop than a standalone tablet. The top two frustrations about a tablet listed are the lack of processing power and the lack of applications. The inability to use a mouse tied with the lack of productivity applications for the third most frustrating factor. “Our research is clear: people want just one device that does everything,” said Joy Quek, Windows Business Group Lead, Microsoft Singapore. “The next era of personal computing is not just about tablets and smartphones, it’s also about powerful devices like hybrids which make work-life much more efficient. Our vision is that Surface Pro 3 is the tablet that can replace your laptop — packing all the performance and utility of a fully powered laptop into a thin, light and beautifully designed tablet. You’ll love being able to carry one device for your next class, workday or weekend getaway knowing you have all the power you need.” In fact, 28 percent of respondents chose a hybrid as their preferred device for their next purchase, a higher number compared to tablets (25 percent) and laptops (24 percent). Continued Quek: “Considering that hybrids are a fairly new category of devices, it is great to see it gaining preference as a better way to bridge the digital work and life needs of working professionals.” Surface Pro 3 – the sleek and premium tablet that enables work-life convergence Surface Pro 3 is ideal for consumers who wants to streamline their lifestyles and get stuff done, not just mobile professionals, but also students and people in business environments who need high levels of corporate access, data security and central manageability. Some of the key features of Surface Pro 3 include:

Scaling On The Cloud for Singapore Startups

Tue, 26 Aug 2014 02:48:47 +0000

We recently sent out a survey asking BizSpark startups what they wanted to learn about Azure. The results were interesting, with most responding that they wanted to learn how to scale on the cloud. As such, we decided to run an Azure lab for startups this 1 September 2014. You can register here: http://bit.ly/bizsparkazurelab1 Schedule

Keynote
Compute
- PAAS
- IAAS
Data and Storage
Networking, Caching

Things to Bring

Microsoft Azure Subscription login details (MSDN subscription from your BizSpark account)

Nokia Lumia 530 - Most Affordable Lumia

Wed, 20 Aug 2014 06:30:14 +0000

New Lumia 530 Brings Uncompromised Smartphone Performance at SGD159

Most Affordable Lumia Available on 23 August 2014

Singapore – August 20, 2014 – Microsoft Devices Group today announced the Lumia 530, the most affordable Lumia to date, delivering an uncompromised smartphone experience with the latest Microsoft and Lumia innovations. It is available in Singapore for an estimated retail price of SGD159 from 23 August 2014, Saturday. Available in Dual SIM 3G variant, Lumia 530 will expand the reach of Windows Phone as the first Lumia introduced below 200 Singapore Dollars, allowing more people to enjoy innovations and Microsoft services found in high-end Lumia smartphones. This includes:

Surface Pro 3 will launch in Singapore on 28 August!

Mon, 18 Aug 2014 04:30:31 +0000

Microsoft has announced via the Surface Blog that Surface Pro 3 will become available for purchase at retail outlets and commercial resellers on 28 August in Singapore. Customers can pre-orders for Surface Pro 3 now at the Microsoft Store online, as well as at authorized retailers Challenger, Newstead and Harvey Norman. In addition, the Surface Pro 3 Docking Station is now available for pre-orders at a recommended retail price of S$288.00, and will be available in September 2014. Customers who pre-order or purchase Surface Pro 3 between 4 Jul and 31 Aug 2014 with DBS/POSB credit or debit cards will receive a free messenger bag (while stocks last). Here’s a quick recap on availability, pricing and current promotions for your quick reference:

Microsoft announces 2014 Worldwide Imagine Cup winners

Fri, 15 Aug 2014 04:30:38 +0000

Microsoft announces 2014 Worldwide Imagine Cup winners

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella awards World Champion team; program expansion to empower more student innovators announced.

SEATTLE — Aug. 1, 2014 — Microsoft Corp. on Friday announced the winners of the Microsoft Imagine Cup, the company’s premier competition for student technologists, developers and aspiring entrepreneurs from across the globe and a cornerstone of the Microsoft YouthSpark initiative. Over the past 12 years the Imagine Cup has empowered more than 1.7 million students worldwide to do more and achieve more through technology. A first place team was chosen in each of the three competition categories: Games, Innovation and World Citizenship. One of those three winning teams was then named World Champion, taking home the Imagine Cup and receiving a private meeting with Bill Gates, Microsoft founder and technology advisor. The winners were announced at the Imagine Cup World Championship ceremony during Microsoft’s TechReady conference at the Washington State Convention Center, in front of an audience of 5,000 students, judges, partners and Microsoft employees. The ceremony was the culmination of a weeklong event and celebrates the power of student innovation. “There is not a business, vertical industry or person on the planet untouched by technology,” Nadella said. “Imagine Cup empowers students to hack tough problems, while learning and building off the work of others. Student developers play a huge role in bringing new technologies to life in a mobile-first, cloud-first world. Congratulations to all the competitors for their hard work and creativity.” Also announced was the expansion of the Imagine Cup program to make it available for even younger students worldwide who have the desire to create and code using Microsoft technology. Through the Imagine Cup program, students are empowered to dream big, build creatively, learn through competition and boldly bring their ideas to life as they gain lifelong career skills throughout their journey. “Imagine Cup is about fostering new ideas and encouraging students to push the boundaries and imagine what’s possible now and in the future. Student developers play a huge role in helping to bring new technology innovations to life in ways that shape the way we work, live and play,” said Steve Guggenheimer, corporate vice president and chief evangelist, Microsoft. “Going forward, Microsoft’s Imagine Cup program aims to empower even more students, at younger ages, with the technologies, skills and resources to build a lifelong passion for technology, helping to grow the next generation of innovators. We’re very proud of the Imagine Cup program and even more proud of our student competitors from all around the globe.”

Developer Feature: Packnada Co-Founder, Jonathan

Wed, 13 Aug 2014 06:59:07 +0000

In the next installment of our Developer Feature series, Spiffy talks to the co-founder of Packnada, Jonathan. Packnada is a fresh new Singapore-based startup with a unique online business revolving around business travel and quite literally, your dirty laundry.

1) Tell us about Packnada, and what is its origin story?

Like most startups, Packnada was born out of frustration. Johnbosco (my co-founder) and I were stuck in a stupidly long queue at the Hong Kong airport during a business trip, and I guarantee we weren’t the only frustrated ones. If we didn’t have to carry around our clothes, we’d be saving a lot of time, not just from skipping queues, but from skipping packing and laundry altogether. We’re both geeks at heart, so we decided to combine something traditional like clothes, with the concept of cloud storage! If we can have our files wherever we go, why don’t we do the same for clothes? You’d never have to pack, and always find your essentials waiting at your hotel!

This National Day, App Up for Singapore!

Fri, 08 Aug 2014 07:00:42 +0000

Singapore’s birthday is just round the corner, and what better way to display your patriotism for your country than showing some love for our local app developers? There are tonnes of made-in-Singapore apps in the Windows and Windows Phone Stores, and we’ve highlighted some of the must-haves in this issue. From food to entertainment, these apps are made by Singapore, for Singapore. While enjoying the apps, you’ll even have the bonus feed-good factor of having supported your own hometown app heroes. So scroll on and check out the apps!

Celebrate 8 things with Windows

Wed, 06 Aug 2014 08:16:31 +0000

Celebrate 8 things you may not know about Windows 8.1 & Windows Phone 8.1 this August!

Did you know that Microsoft has created nine signature Bing Apps for Windows and Windows Phone? We’re not just talking about web search—these Bing apps put the power of decision-making into your fingertips with up-to-date info ranging from Weather to Travel to Health & Fitness. With the latest Windows Phone 8.1 update, you can now enable single sign-on to all your favorite Bing apps for a unified experience. Your customized settings and personal information are synchronized across all your devices, so that the information you desire is always front and center. How fast can you type the following 160-character sentence on your smartphone?

New Update to Windows Phone 8.1

Mon, 04 Aug 2014 09:45:23 +0000

Microsoft on Wednesday announced an update to Windows Phone 8.1 that has some great features for everyone around the world.

These features include:

Live Folders will be available as part of the update, letting users organize their apps into folders on the Start Screen. We call this Live Folders because the live tiles of apps appear in the tile of the folders—you won’t miss tile updates because you group apps in a folder!
SMS merge & forwarding. It’s now easier for users to select multiple SMS messages for deletion and forwarding.
Apps Corner is a new feature that displays pre-selected apps in a special ‘sandboxed’ mode that restricts which apps are used. This is catered for businesses so that they can allow access to specific apps in cases where a full MDM solution isn’t required.

These updates will be made available from next week if users are on the Windows Phone 8.1 Preview for Developers; and the update will roll out to the rest of Windows Phone 8.1 devices in the coming months. You can read more about these new updates and features on the Windows Phone Blog here.

All-new Windows Phone experience: Lumia Cyan update

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 20:34:55 +0000

All-new Windows Phone experience: Lumia Cyan update

The latest Windows Phone 8.1 features for your Lumia

Microsoft has just released the latest Lumia Cyan software update, which has now been rolled out to Nokia Lumia phones running on Windows Phone 8. Integrating a combination of the latest Windows Phone 8.1 update and a rich suite of unique Lumia features, the Lumia Cyan update brings new powerful experiences for existing Lumia smartphones. The new features in the Lumia Cyan update include:

Check Out Microsoft Virtual Academy!

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 04:30:38 +0000

Coping with ever-changing technologies is just one of the many challenges we must face as IT developers. Technology, tools and SDKs are rapidly evolving and you may notice that many products are now on a yearly release cycle. While we are busy coping with all our other commitments, it is difficult to stay on top of these latest developments and keep our skills current and relevant. What I’ve found that this problem is easier to handle with Microsoft products because of the Microsoft Virtual Academy or MVA! It’s a great place to go if you’re an IT professional or developer and you can learn from fundamentals to advanced levels on a wide range of topics on Microsoft technologies. If you’re a teacher or lecturer, you can recommend students to use MVA as a learning platform to grab new skills which can be used in the working environment. If you are a hiring manager, plan to hire fresh graduate or experienced IT personnel, you could require the candidate to complete required courses to make sure they’re ready for challenges ahead. If you are a team leader or manager, you could ask team members to learn some specific courses, for common understanding and have standard skill sets among team members. And if you’re looking to enhance your skills or pursue Microsoft certifications, MVA is the definitely the best place to start with. Do make sure you check out Microsoft Virtual Academy soon and register at http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/. There is new content uploaded regularly and live sessions every week!

Developer Feature: Steve Sng

Mon, 14 Jul 2014 05:00:32 +0000

In this Developer Feature series, Spiffy talks to up-and-coming developers to learn what makes them tick. This time around, we have Steve Sng, the CEO and founder of startup LoveByte, a young growing company with the aim of bringing couples closer using technology.

1) Describe yourself in three words.

Determined, competitive, problem-solver.

2) What motivated you to start LoveByte?

There isn’t a beautiful story behind LoveByte. It was an entirely different product back in 2010 (it was an online search collaboration website similar to Socl - http://www.so.cl/) and it didn’t take off. So my mentor and I were thinking of how to pivot the failed product. Probably because both of us love our girlfriend a lot, we decided to pivot it into an app for couples to “collaborate” and share things privately online. But the first version wasn’t good either. It was a web app and it didn’t stick. So we pivoted it into a mobile app, and that’s what the current LoveByte is.

Lumia 930 now available in Singapore

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 03:13:17 +0000

Lumia 930 now available in Singapore

The latest innovation beautifully integrates the best of Microsoft and Lumia

Microsoft today announced the availability of the Lumia 930 with Windows Phone 8.1 in Singapore at a recommended retail price of SGD789, a device which integrates the best of Microsoft and Lumia to deliver the ultimate video and imaging experience on a smartphone. Lumia 930 packs a rich suite of differentiating applications and services into a beautifully crafted design with metallic details and vibrant new colours, while keeping content like photos, videos and documents in sync across Windows Phone, PC, tablet and Xbox devices.

Adventures at the Youth Spark Kids Camp

Wed, 09 Jul 2014 04:51:01 +0000

On July 6th, Microsoft Singapore welcomed over 400 kids and their family members to a special YouthSpark Kids Camp. This camp is part of the WeSpeakCode movement to promote coding as the second language of the Asia Pacific region. During the camp, kids are invited to take part in a variety of activities, such as the “Hour of Code” which teaches kids to code their first programs and “Glimpse into the Future” which provides a rare look into the latest Microsoft technologies powering the future. My little niece acted as my special field reporter as I observed the camp through her eyes. During registration, participants with Microsoft devices were rewarded with a specially designed WeSpeakCode t-shirt. Kids were encouraged to explore and learn about the various devices and technologies that are sprinkled all over the Microsoft Singapore office. My niece enjoyed the various activities immensely, and she was very interested in finding out how all of the different technologies and devices worked together. To commemorate the event, my niece took a picture with her parents at the photo booth. Thank you Microsoft Singapore for hosting a fantastic Youth Spark Kids Camp. My niece is looking forward to the next WeSpeakCode event! What do you think of Youth Spark Kids Camp? You can share your experiences in the comments below and tag all event photos with #WeSpeakCode and #YouthSpark.

Review: Nokia Lumia 635

Fri, 04 Jul 2014 21:09:08 +0000

The Nokia Lumia 635 was launched in Singapore on the 14th of June, 2014. Recently, I had the opportunity to check out this low-cost device - a pioneer of the next version of Windows Phone (8.1).

Setting Up

I was pleasantly surprised at the upgraded out-of-box experience that comes with Windows Phone 8.1. The cellular network setup that used to be separate from the initial setup has now been merged, and the overall setup process has been simplified. I ran a restore from my Nokia Lumia 1020 which quickly brought back all my accounts, contacts, apps and customization options (even backgrounds and tiles) in less than 10 minutes. The Lumia 635 I got came with OS version 8.10.12382.878 which is the latest publicly available version of Windows Phone to the public.

5 things Singapore startups and musicians have in common

Wed, 02 Jul 2014 08:38:18 +0000

As someone who’s been fortunate enough to have a foot in two rather different worlds - the local startup ecosystem and the local music scene - I’ve found some curious similarities. When I speak to startups in my course of work managing the Microsoft BizSpark programme in Singapore, I often joke that a musician in Singapore is very similar to an entrepreneur in Singapore - the only small difference is that as an entrepreneur, there’s at least a chance for you to make your money back.

Xbox One, Windows Phone, Surface Pro 3 Singapore Roundup for 27/6/2014

Sat, 28 Jun 2014 21:54:30 +0000

The Surface Pro 3 Media Event on the 27th of June also revealed some information about the Xbox One and Windows Phone in Singapore. Here are some interesting information regarding the three that I gathered from asking around.

Xbox One

The Xbox One will be released in Singapore on the 23rd of September.
It will be available for purchase on the online Microsoft Store, with (S$739) and without the Kinect (S$639).
Consumers will be able to pre-order the Xbox One - though no news on pre-order bonuses, if any.
The delayed launch of the Xbox One was due to customizations that had to be made in order to cater to the country.
This is because the Xbox One is not just a gaming device - it’s an all-rounded entertainment device.
Stay-tuned for the pre-order which may reward locals for waiting.
Post-launch, we should see games by Microsoft (343i - like Halo Master Chief Collection, etc) launching on the same day in Singapore. Not sure if partners (like EA) will release on the same day as well or if games will have a staggered release.
Integration with local providers is being worked on.
The Xbox One has many upcoming exclusive games as shown in the recent E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo).
Did you know: The Xbox One can control the TV (e.g. power, volume) via HDMI?

Windows Phone

The Nokia Lumia 930 will be launched in July.
Nokia device releases are usually on Saturdays - meaning the Lumia 930 will likely go live on the 5th, 12th, 19th, or 26th of July.
Windows Phone 8.1 will be rolled out some time in Q3 2014 (1st July to 30th September).
SensorCore will only be available to the Nokia Lumia 635, 930, and 1520 - and future Lumias- but not earlier models of Nokia Lumia.
Fragmentation is not expected from this as SensorCore is very niche, and developers can make an app work with or without it (e.g. Bing Health & Fitness app)

Surface Pro 3

Students can get an educational 10% discount off the Surface Pro 3 from the online Microsoft Store.
No plans for any trade-in promotion.
Will be available at Challenger, Newstead, and Harvey Norman - pre-orders from them start 4th July (already available at the online Microsoft Store).
Check out the Surface Pro 3 Fact Sheet for more information.

Surface Pro 3 – Fact Sheet

Thu, 26 Jun 2014 17:12:05 +0000

Meet Surface Pro 3, the tablet that can replace your laptop. Wrapped in magnesium and loaded with a 12-inch ClearType Full HD display, 4th-generation Intel® Core™ processor and up to 8 GB of RAM in a sleek frame — just 9.1mm thin and 800g — with up to nine hours of Web-browsing battery life, Surface Pro 3 has all the power, performance and mobility of a laptop in an incredibly lightweight, versatile form. The thinnest and lightest member of the Surface Pro family, Surface Pro 3 features a large and beautiful 2160x1440 2K color-calibrated screen and 3:2 aspect ratio with multitouch input, so you can swipe, pinch and drag whenever you need. The improved optional Surface Pro Type Cover and more adjustable, continuous kickstand will transform your device experience from tablet to laptop in a snap. Surface Pro Type Cover features a double-fold hinge enabling you to magnetically lock it to the display’s lower bezel, keeping everything steady so you can work just as comfortably on your lap as you do at your desk. With a full-size USB 3.0 port, microSD card reader and Mini DisplayPort, you can quickly transfer files and easily connect peripherals like external displays. And with the optional Surface Ethernet Adapter, you can instantly connect your Surface to a wired Ethernet network with transfer rates of up to 1 Gbps [1]. The custom Surface Pen, crafted with a solid, polished aluminum finish, was designed to look and feel like an actual fountain pen to give you a natural writing experience. Use Surface Pen to organically mark presentations, sign documents or create art in apps like Fresh Paint. A click of Surface Pen opens OneNote, so you can capture your thoughts instantaneously — and your work is automatically saved. Double-click the back of Surface Pen to instantly capture a screenshot of whatever’s on your screen [2]. And with our sophisticated Palm Block technology, you can rest your hand as you write without unintended inputs and marks. When it’s time to have some fun, Surface Pro 3’s bright 12-inch ClearType Full HD display, Dolby® Audio-enhanced sound and doubled Wi-Fi speeds are up to the task. Prop up your Surface via its continuous kickstand for your perfect viewing angle, and enjoy Surface Pro 3’s front-facing speakers, now 45 percent louder for an even better audio experience. Need to quickly capture a photo or video chat with your friends? Surface Pro 3 now features two 5MP cameras capable of capturing 1080p HD video, so capturing stills or video has never been easier. With Windows 8.1 Pro [3], Surface Pro 3 is capable of running all your Windows software, including Microsoft Office and Windows Store apps, including custom line-of-business apps for enterprises and business owners. Surface Pro 3 is available with an Intel® Core™ i3, i5 or i7 processor with up to 512 GB of storage and up to 8 GB of RAM [4]. At launch, we have announced that BMW Group, the Coca-Cola Company and LVMH Group have already committed to deploying Surface Pro 3 in their respective organizations, leading the way in transforming the way companies do business. This fact speaks to Surface Pro 3’s suitability for business needs.

What’s ‘Appening: The Football Issue

Thu, 26 Jun 2014 04:30:26 +0000

What’s ‘Appening is a series of lists by Microsoft Singapore detailing some must-have apps for your Windows 8 or Windows Phone device. Do check them out and discover some hot new apps!

It’s time for kick-off!

Whether you call it soccer, football, or the “beautiful game”, the sport where 11 players on each side kick a little ball around a grass field and try to get it into large woven nets at either end of the field is back again this year with its biggest and most exciting global event—the World Cup! If you’ve never heard of the game, the way we’ve described it may not sound very exciting, but rest assured that no other soccer competition in the world is more anticipated than this once-in-four-years mega-event. But as countries of the world put forth their best feet to win the grand title of World Cup champion, we’d rather hunker down in our living room with our Windows and Windows Phone devices, where the view is better and more personal, and where there are great apps to make the experience exceptional. Are you ready for the kick-off?

Massive Increase to OneDrive Storage Plans

Wed, 25 Jun 2014 06:04:25 +0000

You may have heard by now that Microsoft announced on Tuesday updates to OneDrive that include: an increase in the amount of free storage available to customers, reduced prices for paid storage, and added value for customers who have an Office 365 subscription. A breakdown of the updates is included below:

Free storage will increase from 7 GB to 15 GB
Storage bundled with Office 365 subscriptions will increase to 1 TB
- S$9.80/month or $98.00/year for Office 365 Personal
- S$13.80/month or $138.00/year for Office 365 Home (up to 5 PCs or Macs)
- S$108.00/4yr for University
- Note: Monthly pricing only available via microsoftstore.com
Storage prices will be reduced worldwide. Plans are now:
- S$3.00/month for 100 GB of storage
Lastly, OneDrive users who refer friends will still receive up to 5 GB (in 500 MB increments) for each friend who accepts an invitation. Additionally, OneDrive will give you 3 GB just for activating the camera backup feature on your smartphone.

All of these updates will take effect in the next month. Current subscribers will be automatically be moved to the lower prices. Additional details can be found on the OneDrive blog.

Exploring Walkabout Singapore 2014

Wed, 18 Jun 2014 03:00:59 +0000

Walkabout Singapore - 13th June

Walkabout Singapore is an annual open house for technology companies in Singapore where the public is given an opportunity to interact with the hottest startups and tech giants, such as Microsoft, Facebook, and Twitter. Since its successful inaugural edition in 2012, Walkabout Singapore has grew by leaps and bounds with its 3rd edition offering 80 open houses, 25 special events, and a rockin’ afterparty at Kyo.

Promo: Syncfusion Essential Studio for Windows Phone

Tue, 17 Jun 2014 06:11:38 +0000

Love to build mobile applications but lacking the time to develop the components you need? Take a look at Essential Studio for Windows Phone 8 by Syncfusion. For just $1 (original price of $99), create your application with a beautiful UI quickly.

What is Essential Studio?

Essential Studio for Windows Phone 8 provides all the controls necessary to build complete line of business applications for the phone. The wide selection of controls available let you push the limits of the scope of enterprise applications that can be build on a phone.

Lumia 635 Now Available in Singapore

Tue, 17 Jun 2014 04:30:46 +0000

Lumia 635 Now Available in Singapore

The most affordable 4G Lumia smartphone packs a wealth of innovation and super-fast connected experiences

16 June 2014, Singapore The Lumia 635 with Windows Phone 8.1 is now available in Singapore bringing an unrivalled affordable smartphone experience with lightning-fast 4G connectivity, quad-core processing and a ClearBlack 4.5” LCD screen for only SGD239. The Lumia 635 adds to the leading personalization brought by Windows Phone 8.1, and makes it quicker and easier for people to connect with the things they love online with a combination of award-winning design and experiences found on high-end Lumia smartphones:

*SCAPE's "Meet The VCs"

Mon, 16 Jun 2014 07:17:35 +0000

I recently got an opportunity to share what Microsoft is doing in the Singapore startup scene at *SCAPE, where HubQuarters is one of many established local co-working spaces. In general, the audience seemed surprised at the existence of BizSpark, which offers local tech startups more than 900 current, full-featured software development tools, platform technologies, and server products to build software applications. I also got asked many interesting questions, the most repeated of which I’ll reproduce below.

The New and Improved Windows Phone 8.1

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 13:26:57 +0000

Big changes are coming to the Windows Phone platform with Windows Phone 8.1, the next major update to the Windows Phone Operating System. All WP8 devices will be able to update to Windows Phone 8.1 which will begin rolling out over the next few weeks, or months (timing varies depending on model). These are exciting changes that will enhance your Windows Phone experience, check out some select major improvements and new functions below.

Developer Feature: Vincent Lau

Wed, 11 Jun 2014 05:00:32 +0000

We were lucky to have met Vincent Lau during one of our social gatherings and we had the privilege to feature him in this month’s Developer Feature series. In this post, we ask the 29 year old CTO and co-founder of PayWhere to share on his mission of marrying social media and e-commerce.

Describe yourself in three words.

Futurist. Engineer. Innovator

What motivated you to start PayWhere?

I started a web development firm back in my University days together with a few friends. Hundreds of job requests later, we noticed that people were looking for a fast, easy and inexpensive way to start their own online shop. We decided to address this market gap, and that was how PayWhere started. Incidentally, the earlier business that I started is still around. It is now known as Massive Infinity (MI), and develops both web and mobile applications. MI is also in the BizSpark programme.

What's 'Appening: The Travel Issue

Mon, 09 Jun 2014 14:14:49 +0000

What’s ‘Appening is a series of lists by Microsoft Singapore detailing some must-have apps for your Windows 8 or Windows Phone device. Do check them out and discover some hot new apps!

The world is a book…

… and those who do not travel read only a page. This famous quote by St. Augustine has inspired wanderlust in many of us, and is all the more resonant in today’s age of affordable flights and accommodation. Why should one travel? Just run a quick search on Bing for the answer and you’ll likely get the same well-known responses thrown back at you, all running along the same theme—travel is great for finding out more about yourself and your mates, not to mention the fun you can have, and you should absolutely do it sometime soon. But planning a trip can be daunting. Other than the obvious preparations to make before the trip, there are still a thousand things that could go wrong during the trip itself. Fortunately, apps on Windows and Windows Phone can make the entire process smooth and easy. Charge up your devices, load up these apps, and let’s head out for an adventure!

10 Questions with Nokia HERE

Sat, 07 Jun 2014 04:18:45 +0000

Maps do more than get us to our destination. Maps tell stories and help us explore. In a way just being on a map means we exist. The challenge is that mapmaking is a human intensive business and many places change so rapidly that cartographers can’t keep up. Nokia’s HERE business, which through 2012 operated under the Location & Commerce name, develops a range of location-based products and services for consumers, as well as content and platform services for device manufacturers, automobile manufacturers, application developers, Internet services providers, merchants and advertisers. HERE was formed during 2011 through the combination of NAVTEQ, which Nokia acquired in July 2008. In November 2012, Nokia introduced a new brand, HERE, for its location-based products and services, which include HERE Drive, HERE Maps and HERE Transit. With more than 6,000 people in 56 countries, Nokia’s HERE business takes a human approach to updating digital maps at the pace of real world growth, using the industry’s most advanced map collection tools and technologies and enlisting locals to share their homegrown knowledge of a place by making changes to the maps that reflect their stories.

Nokia XL Lands in Singapore

Fri, 06 Jun 2014 03:21:16 +0000

The Nokia XL lands in Singapore on 13 June and will be available exclusively online at launch

The myth has been proven – bigger is better! Available in stand-out colours that will win over even the trendiest mobile fashionista, and part of the latest Nokia X family of affordable smartphones that gives access to Android™ apps, Nokia XL will be sold exclusively online before any retail store.

Registration of Interest

Registration of Interest will open on 6 June at handphoneshop.com/NokiaXL
Registrants will receive a unique 50% discount code that is applicable for the first 100 who purchase the device online at handphoneshop.com/NokiaXL on 13 June 2014, starting at noon

Nokia XL - Your Fastlane to Android apps

Thu, 05 Jun 2014 13:24:54 +0000

The best of all worlds

The Nokia XL smartphone is primarily aimed at consumers in growth economies, to connect the ‘next billion’ to the mobile Internet and cloud services. It offers a unique combination of affordability, beautiful design, a world of AndroidTM apps, plus signature Nokia experiences and popular Microsoft services.

Crafted without compromise

The Nokia XL is beautifully crafted, with a durable monobody design and exchangeable back covers available in 6 bold, vibrant colours, including the ever-fabulous orange! No design detail has been overlooked. The Nokia XL boasts a 5” display with a 2MP front-facing camera – ideal for Skype video calls and selfies – not to mention, a 5MP rear-facing, autofocus camera with flash that will ensure you never miss a wonderful moment around you. Remove the back cover and you will see an all-black interior, with three slots: two for SIM cards and one for a microSD card. The Nokia XL’s fast and fluid user interface includes the unique Fastlane feature – a second screen that acts as a shortcut to all your recent activity and future appointments.

Windows Make8 competition winners

Wed, 04 Jun 2014 10:16:06 +0000

Hello everyone! Here are the 4 winners for Make8 Competition

Walau

Description

Ever wonder what is that shadowy figure up in the bridge when you are driving below it and out of nowhere comes a ticket for breaking traffic laws?

Now you can be that shadowy figure and issue tickets to traffic breaking motorists!

Traffic Laws
- Speeding!
- Exhaust pollution to the environment!
- Motorist who failed to pay the toll upon passing through gantry!
- Motorist that drive in bus lane during bus lane hours!

Unity Contest for Windows and Windows Phone

Wed, 04 Jun 2014 07:48:45 +0000

If you are a developer with Unity, or have plans to make your own game title, don’t miss this challenge! Win up to USD50,000 if you port or submit your game to the Windows Store and/or Windows Phone Store. Benefits:

Free publishing to the Windows Store and Windows Phone
Stand a chance to win cash prizes or a Unity Pro license

What will the games be judged on? Who should join?

Exploring Asian Innovations at InnovFest 2014

Wed, 04 Jun 2014 02:16:43 +0000

On April 15th, I was fortunate to be able to attend InnovFest 2014 organized by National University of Singapore (NUS). The theme for InnovFest 2014 is “Asian Innovations Going Global” and the festival featured an exciting collection of Asian innovations, research, technologies, product presentations, and discussion panels. Some of the innovations and technologies that caught my attention included: 1. Interclo - Disaster relief clothing with multiple applications, such as a jacket, a shawl, a sleeping bag, and a blanket. 2. Neural prostheses by Sinapse. 3. Green Steel - Bamboo reinforced concrete by Singapore-ETH Centre Future Cities Laboratory. 4. T-Jacket which simulates hugs to calm and comfort individuals. 5. Cacstix which captures tiny micro plastics in laundry wastewater before it is released into the ocean. Beside exploring the latest innovations, research, and technologies, I also managed to attend interesting product presentations and discussions panels on topics such as technology transfers from research to market, innovations in healthcare for the ageing and silver industry, and next generation learning. Amongst the panels, I liked the discussion on next generation learning moderated by David Lim (Director, Technical Audience Marketing, Developer & Platform Evangelism, Asia Pacific Region, Microsoft Operations Pte Ltd). During the discussion, Dave Cho (founder and CEO of Classting) and Stanley Han (co-founder and CEO of Koobits) shared their experiences on building an edu-startup and provided their insights into the online learning market. Three key market insights highlighted during the panel are: 1. The online learning market is still in its infancy, and the main challenge is to identify your market, your target audience, and your unique selling proposition (USP). As Stanley Ho pointed out, he spent approximately three years refining his business model, identifying and understanding the needs and behavior of his target audience, and developing products that addressed the needs of his audience while maximizing the benefits of the online learning platform. 2. The popularity of online learning will only serve to amplify the role of teachers by enabling each teacher to reach out to more students in geographically dispersed locations. One of the potential future of online learning platforms, such as Koobits and Classting, is to provide personalized learning experiences that is accessible to students from all over the world. 3. Monetization continues to be a challenge for edu-startups and you have to be passionate in your entrepreneurial pursuit despite a seemingly losing course of action. Although Classting has over 80,000 classes in its online edu-social platform and occupies 70% of the domestic market in South Korea, the platform continues to provide its services for free and will only explore monetization avenues in the near future. I would like to say a big “Thank You” to NUS for organizing a great gathering of entrepreneurs, researchers, and innovators to share and exchange ideas and technologies. What do you think of InnovFest 2014? 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!

Game on with ESPN FC World Cup Essentials on Internet Explorer

Tue, 03 Jun 2014 07:37:10 +0000

In partnership with ESPN, the Internet Explorer team is thrilled to announce ESPN FC World Cup Essentials for the web! There is so much excitement around World Cup, but it can be hard for fans to find all the information they want in one place. ESPN FC World Cup Essentials covers it all whether you’re a big fan or just watching the matches for fun. ESPN FC World Cup Essentials is not just the place to get ready for the World Cup. Fans will also be able to: • Access and download exclusive ESPN content and artwork created specifically for the World Cup 2014 • Get an immersive sports experience with IE11 technology Built for touch, the site is best experienced on IE11, but will work across all modern browsers and devices. The site really comes to life in the browser and features real-time news, exclusive content curated by ESPN experts and 3D artwork using WebGL. The ESPN FC World Cup Essentials site joins other Rethink IE experiences such as 22tracks and Assassin’s Creed Pirates as examples of what is possible on the web today with modern browsers For more information, please visit the Exploring IE blog.

Make8 Windows App : OneDrive to rule them all

Sat, 31 May 2014 18:05:51 +0000

Hello! We are at the 8th Installation of our Challenge, and we will be merging these challenges for both Windows and Windows Phone moving forward. This challenge would be targeting Universal Apps. You would need to deliver both Windows and Windows Phone apps for this challenge. We will be running this challenge for 6 weeks to give you more time for the universal app. Deadline is 12th July 2014 2359hrs Here are the list of Challenge to date

//publish/Hackathon in London

Fri, 23 May 2014 05:00:37 +0000

While many of you had the awesome opportunity to attend the exciting //publish/Hackathon event held in Singapore, I had the chance to attend the one held in London, United Kingdom. The event here was held at Cardinal Place, Microsoft London on 17th May 2014 from 9am - 9pm. Throughout the event, developers had the opportunity to gather for the day to develop and publish their apps. It was also a great opportunity to connect with other developers around the world via live video stream and chat room, view training sessions, and get 1-on-1 personalized consulting with Microsoft Engineers on-site at the dev clinics. The engineers provided valuable feedback to make great apps into masterpieces, where some of the support rendered included store certification preparation, migration guidance, advice for app performance, stability and design, and troubleshooting assistance. Also, there was the UK AppChallenge held concurrently, where attendees had the chance to win Microsoft hardware as we competed with one another to climb the leader board. Unlike the one held in Singapore which lasted for 2 days, we only had the event for a day, so we had to make every second count! At the end of the day, developers who published an app received a limited edition goodybag consisting thumbdrives, special edition t-shirts and cool Microsoft gifts. On top of that, developers also demoed their published apps, and the best ones won pretty awesome hardware devices. Well, enough said, I guess I’ll let the photos I took do the talking! :)

Remote Desktop into Ubuntu Server with GUI on Windows Azure

Thu, 22 May 2014 03:07:51 +0000

Someone was trying this out and could not get this to work so I mentioned I would write an article if I got it working and I did get it working so here is the article. Let’s not have much of the usual gibberish that I write at the start of the post and get straight to the point. What you would need: 1. 30-Day Trial Azure Subscription [link] (If you do not have one) 2. A little bit of knowledge of Linux shell commands 3. PuTTY [link] on Windows | Terminal on OS X 4. Remote Desktop Client (It’s on the Mac App Store for you OS X users. P.S. The OS X Version is also really pretty.) [link] Create your Virtual Machine through Windows Azure and let’s make one running the latest Ubuntu which is 14.04 LTS as seen below. Give it a little bit to create, eat a cookie, drink a cuppa joe or anything that can be done in 5 minutes. Once that’s done, go to the Endpoints section of the Virtual Machine and click Add to add an Endpoint. Once you see this click next and select Remote Desktop as the name of the Endpoint, all the relevant details will be filled out for you (yipee) and just hit the tick at the bottom right. Wait a little again and your Endpoint will be successfully added. Moving on to commandline stuff! Fire Up PuTTY and fill in your login details as such or if you are on OS X follow the image below PuTTY one. Now, let’s proceed onto this by just typing commands into the box above. Each line means a new command.

Microsoft unveils Surface Pro 3, new accessories

Wed, 21 May 2014 02:42:44 +0000

Today, at an event in New York City, Microsoft announced the Surface family is growing with a new Surface model, Surface Pro 3, the tablet that can replace your laptop. Surface Pro 3 is powerful, portable and designed to maximize productivity in a sleek, premium tablet package. People need one great device for work and play, for entertainment and for getting things done, and Surface Pro 3 is designed for people who want premium laptop experience.

Microsoft Singapore //publish/ hackathon with Special Guest Appearance by Inori Aizawa

Tue, 20 May 2014 03:07:26 +0000

//publish/Hackathon - 17th and 18th May

Microsoft //publish/ is a global event where developers gather for 32 straight hours to develop and publish their apps, and share their knowledge, experiences and insights into the latest happenings in the industry. In Singapore, the event was held at The Co. on 17th and 18th May.

Event Highlights

The event welcomed a huge group of enthusiastic developers who are eager to exchange ideas to build and publish great apps. The highlight of the day was the special guest appearance by Inori Aizawa, the anime personification for Internet Explorer. She was cheering the developers at the event, and giving out limited edition pillows for participants that took a picture with her. What did you think of //publish/ hackathon? Is there another event that you would like us to cover? Please leave your comments and suggestions below!

Introduction to Linux Computing

Thu, 15 May 2014 06:21:00 +0000

So I’m sure most of our readers have heard of Linux before? No? Maybe you have seen this linux penguin before? [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“307”] Tux the Linux Penguin[/caption] Nonetheless this is for those of you who have heard of Linux or the many distributions of Linux but perhaps think it’s too complicated or a long list of other reasons why you never used Linux. So now you may ask me, so what in the world is Linux? The straight answer to this question is It’s an Operating System like Windows or Macintosh. Some of you may have never had the chance to utilise Linux but Linux is more prevalent in systems than you think. Have a router, smartphone, network access storage or media streaming player? They all basically have Linux at their core. Let me introduce you to a flavour(distribution) of Linux. It’s called Ubuntu. The image below is how Ubuntu 14.04 looks like. Looks sleek and neat right? You were thinking Linux looked more like white text on a black box right? Like the image below perhaps? Well this is true in both senses but let’s not delve too deep into that area as that will just complicate things for now. If you want to try out Linux, there are tons of ways to do it but I’m going to propose the simplest way for all of us to do this and that is to use a virtual machine! So let’s move on to what we need. 1. VirtualBox [link] 2. VirtualBox Extension Pack [link] 3. Ubuntu 32-bit [link] 4. A Working Computer running Windows, OS X 5. Yourself Now that we have download all of the above, Install VirtualBox as well as the Extension Pack. Get Ready with the Ubuntu ISO you just downloaded and let’s proceed to install Linux! Create a new Virtual Machine below by pressing on the obviously blue new button. Fill up some details about your machine, go crazy here. Suggestion for names: “Superman’s Fortress of Solitude”, “The Bat Cave”, “Winterfell”, “King’s Landing” and many more great ideas you may have. I went with a boring name. Just hit next all the way and proceed with the default options. Let’s turn on our Virtual Machine. Press on the bright and beautiful green arrow “Start”. You will see the below and will have to select the Ubuntu ISO that you previously downloaded. I have selected the ISO and we are roaring to go! Hit Start. The Boot Screen for your Virtual Machine. Yay we have booted into the Ubuntu Menu. Let’s proceed straight to Installing Ubuntu. Select the second option with your keyboard and hit enter. You’ll see both options if you let your virtual machine autoboot without seeing the screen above. If that’s the case, just hit on the “Install Ubuntu” button. Select the options like in the image below and continue. Erase the whole disk and install Ubuntu. Select your country. Select your keyboard layout. Usually it would be English (US) unless perhaps maybe you are special? Fill in your name below! We can get creative here again. Some examples could beeeee “Clark Kent, “Bruce Wayne”, “Ned Stark”, “Robert Baratheon” and maaany more you can think of. Now Ubuntu is beginning to install. It will be done in quite a jiffy. Yay! It’s done. Let’s reboot. You might see this when it’s rebooting. Oh look! We have just installed Ubuntu on your computer. Time to login with the password that you typed above. We will need to set-up Guest Additions for Ubuntu to enable some features for VirtualBox. Select the menu below and select Insert Guest Additions CD image…. The Guest Additions Image will appear as below and all you have to do is click Run Software. It will give you a warning prompt, just hit Run. Your password is required again for this. Compiling… Installation done! Press Enter and it will close the window. We should reboot our Virtual Machine again so at the top right just select reboot. Whew. Wow, that was such a long post with so many images. Hopefully the images helped you along the way to put one leg into the Linux Computing world. Ubuntu is a very popular Linux OS that can be installed on almost every Laptop. Now is the time to play around with Ubuntu, try using the Operating System by itself and see if you can figure out some stuff. I’ll write another follow-up post to this one and explore even more of Ubuntu and perhaps we will start that post off with Installing some packages. Have fun with your new Linux System. If you have any issues, feel free to comment below and I’ll address them there.

Free Telerik Controls for Windows 8 and Windows Phone

Wed, 14 May 2014 07:05:49 +0000

In light of TechEd2014, Telerik is giving away a year’s subscription to their UI Controls for Windows 8 and Windows Phone until the 16th of May, 2014. Telerik’s famous and highly-valued UI controls make designing beautiful Windows applications an easy feat, with multiple design templates and building blocks waiting help you jump start your application. An update that adds controls for Universal Apps will also be coming later in the year and is included in the subscription. If you’re a developer you won’t want to miss this. Grab this while it lasts, here.

Developer Feature: Natalie Ip

Sun, 11 May 2014 05:00:25 +0000

In this Developer Feature series, Spiffy talks to up-and-coming developers to learn what makes them tick. This time around, we have 26-and-a-half-year-old Natalie Ip, the CEO and founder of delivery startup dilivrit.

Describe yourself in three words.

Hong(kong)kiwi. Resilient. Persistent. = Scrappy.

Describe dilivrit in a sentence.

On-demand delivery at your fingertips.

What motivated you to start dilivrit? How did you come up with the idea?

I love starting up things, it’s like achievement unlocked. I actually started wanting to do a food startup, I even had business cards for the name FOODIP. In the end I opted for food delivery and an investor suggested I should create a great delivery system for other higher margin items as well. So after researching the market I pivoted to a crowdsourced delivery platform. Why now? Riding on the bandwagon of e-commerce and instant gratification!

What's 'Appening: The Blockbuster Issue

Wed, 07 May 2014 09:09:47 +0000

What’s ‘Appening is a series of lists by Microsoft Singapore detailing some must-have apps for your Windows 8 or Windows Phone device. Do check them out and discover some hot new apps!

Everything I learned, I learned from the movies

Movies are a cultural phenomenon, a mighty visual art form that has the power to entertain, educate, and inspire the masses. But experiencing the movies nowadays is no longer restricted to just the cinema. Remember the last time you read up on a movie synopsis before you entered the theatre? Or immediately went online to read what your friends are saying about the movie you’ve just seen? Apps have extended our movie-going experience far beyond the movie itself, and you’ll find everything you need on Windows and Windows Phone devices. And just like how photography has been completely democratized by the smartphone camera, video is experiencing a surge in popularity, having reached a point where processing power and fast wireless networks are able to support their production and consumption on-the-go. If we were all movie makers—what will your masterpiece be?

Developing for Windows – A Comprehensive Link Dump

Mon, 05 May 2014 09:40:03 +0000

Wanted to code an app for Windows but didn’t know how? Didn’t know what language to use, what tools to use - or where to begin? Here’s a list of links to training materials and resources that will get you started on your journey into coding. You can also download the PDF version here.

Training Materials

General Information Windows 8 Dev Center Home http://msdn.microsoft.com/windows Windows 8 Dev Center Dashboard https://appdev.microsoft.com/StorePortals/ Technical References API reference for Windows Runtime apps http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/br211369.aspx How to… (Create Windows 8 apps in JavaScript and HTML, C#/C++/VB and XAML, or C++ and DirectX) -> START TO FINISH http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/windows/apps/bg124284 Migrate your app from iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Web, and more! http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-sg/library/windows/apps/dn436165 Designing Apps for PPI Displays http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=391346 Universal Windows apps http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-sg/windows/dn642498 Universal Windows app samples http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsapps/Universal-Windows-app-cb3248c3 Windows Store App Design http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-sg/windows/apps/hh779072 Online Trainings Windows Store App Samples http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsapps Windows Store apps for Absolute Beginners with C# http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Windows-Store-apps-for-Absolute-Beginners-with-C- Windows Store apps for Absolute Beginners with JavaScript http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Windows-Store-apps-for-Absolute-Beginners-with-JavaScript Windows 8.1 UX Design http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Windows-8-1-UX-Design Windows 8.1 Developer Training, Geek Edition http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Windows-8-1-Developer-Training-Geek-Edition Build your first Windows Store app http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Build-your-first-Windows-Store-app Introducing Windows 8 http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Introducing-Windows-8 Windows Store Apps Development http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/product-training/product-windows-store-apps

How To Protect And Secure Your Devices?

Sat, 03 May 2014 05:00:05 +0000

There must be at one point or another, everyone has experienced panic and fear when the moment you realize your phone is missing. I admit that I was partly responsible for the loss or even the theft of my own device. In this article, I listed down my personal dos & don’ts from buying a good case for your phone to securing your personal information in your phone.

1) Buy a good case

Mixed reviews everywhere on this but I belong to the group that believes a good case may save a few lives. You will never catch me dead with a phone without a good case. Remember gravity is always stronger than you and you probably drop your phone a few times in your life. And do think about higher resale value for your phone when it is still in its pristine condition. Flip cases are fine for me but flip cases with card holders are a no-no for me. Losing your phone is bad enough, so why would I want to put my IDs and even credit cards together with your phone? And to make things worse, your personal credentials are stored in the phone. I will cover this more in detail below. I will never look at cases that are twice the size of the phone. They look cute, attractive and also very attention-seeking. It’s like screaming to everyone that you have the latest phone in the market and please do come and get it. And I am pretty sure it will not fit my biggest pocket.

Windows and Windows Phone 8 Better Together Winners

Fri, 02 May 2014 04:55:30 +0000

Hello everyone! Here are the winners for Windows and Windows Phone 8 Better Together Winners

Task Me

Description

Do you ever forget to… - Remind your husband to pick up your kid after work? - Remind your child to take medicine after lunch? - Remind your friend to bring some documents tomorrow?Let Task Me set reminder for your friend.You just need to CREATE a task, SET reminder and SEND to your friend. Then Task Me will remind your friend when the time comes.Not only sending tasks to your friend, Task Me can also manage your own tasks. Your tasks are synchronized to our cloud server and will be shared to all of your devices.In addition, more advanced features will be available in the near future, including adding tags, multiple occurrences, location awareness, voice, also send task to a group of friends. Stay tuned!Task Me is created to ease your burden of remembering not only what you need to do, but also what your friends need to do. We hope that Task Me will be very useful for you.

Make8 | Windows 8 App Challenge

Thu, 01 May 2014 04:30:21 +0000

Over the past few months, we’ve held several successful app challenges on our Windows Phone platform. Today, we’re excited to announce our next initiative, the Make8 App Challenge! Held monthly, Make8 offers local developers a chance to make a difference on our Windows platform, for both Windows 8 and Windows Phone. This month, we’re hosting 10 challenges targeted at Windows 8, but we’re definitely excited to see developers leveraging our latest Universal Apps platform to share their innovations to Windows Phone as well. Furthermore, to celebrate the inauguration of Make8, we’ve taken in several popular app ideas - heavily requested by our Singaporean Windows 8 users - which are ripe for development. Who knows, one of them might just become our next Top App! Last but not least, our top prize for Make8 is the hot, new Nokia Lumia 930 - when it’s available in Singapore. The Make8 App Challenge will be happening from the 1st to 31st of May, 2014! So what are you waiting for? Take up the challenge here, today!

Let's Geek Out @ Microsoft's //publish/

Wed, 30 Apr 2014 05:30:40 +0000

……..

What’s happening?

Join us for a fun, free overnight event. You can bring your existing app and game projects to Microsoft’s //publish/ event to code with developers from around the world. Collaborate and get help with app design, performance, testing, publishing, porting from Unity – you name it. It’s 32 straight hours devoted to getting your app up and running smoothly on Windows phones, tablets, and PCs.

Receive onsite support from Microsoft and community experts to remove blockers and add the finishing touches to your project. Join a testing group of your peers and try your app out on a range of devices Connect online with developers and Microsoft product specialists from all over the globe in simultaneous worldwide events. Show off your completed project at the App Showcase.

Imagine Cup Singapore 2014 Winners

Fri, 25 Apr 2014 04:30:21 +0000

Microsoft Singapore has announced that three teams of students from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have clinched the top spots in all three categories of this year’s Imagine Cup Singapore finals, breaking through intense competition which saw participation by over a hundred students from numerous institutions of higher learning in Singapore. The three teams are:

Team STAND — Comprising students from NYP School of IT and NUS, Team STAND won the Innovation Competition with their facial recognition software capable of automatically identifying the age, race, gender and emotion of any audience member in a crowd in real time.
Team Elites — Team Elites,fromNYP School of Engineering, broke through in the World Citizenship Competition with a Windows Phone-based solution that aims to help people with hearing and speech impairments to communicate better with those around them.
Team LifeChoices — NYP School of IT’s Team LifeChoices took home the Games Competition championship with their roleplaying game which lets players simulate making life-changing decisions without actually risking any real-life entities, and an original, self-built game engine will randomize gameplay scenarios based on the choices players make.

All three teams will now proceed to the World Semifinals to vie for the honor of representing Singapore in the World Finals, which will be held in Redmond, Washington, USA, from July 29, 2014 to August 2, 2014, where cash prizes of US$50,000 per category and other awards await. From the World Semifinals, three teams from the entire Asia Pacific region will be chosen to proceed to the World Finals. These three teams will be announced on May 28, 2014. Held annually since 2003, Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition, known affectionately by participants both past and present as “the Olympics of student technology competitions”, and has inspired countless students over the past 12 years to dream about the boundless opportunities technology offers to enhance people’s lives.

Podcasts - The New Music to Your Ears

Thu, 24 Apr 2014 05:00:08 +0000

For those who know me personally, you’ll know that I love reading feeds from tech websites using Feedly (hello Feedly! I’ll share top websites that I follow closely in a separate post). It is my usual ritual when i wake up while still in bed, when I commute, or just before I go to bed. However, there are times where I want to read up but I just can’t, simply because I’m doing something else (multitasking FTW!). Usually we’ll just turn to music for this. However, lately I found a solution to that. PODCAST! It’s like listening to a radio talk, but for me, specifically, on tech. I think listening to podcasts or even audiobooks are suitable to those who don’t like reading that much and have problem of falling asleep when they just start reading a few paragraphs (me! me! *raise hand*). Here, I’d like to share top 3 podcasts that I listen to regularly.

Apps Central: March

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 04:30:50 +0000

Go On an Adventure with Windows Phone!

If you had to pick one phone to travel with you to the North Pole, which would it be? When adventurer Eric Larsen left for the top of the globe in early March, his digital companions consisted of a Nokia Lumia 1020 and Lumia 1520, which helped him to take amazing photographs, document and share his journey with the world. Don’t miss out on this expedition—follow Eric’s updates here on his website or by following him on Twitter. (Read more about the expedition on the Windows Phone blog) Most of us can only dream of living an adventure like Eric’s. We may, however, join him in making the most of our Windows Phones, and what better way to do so than through the latest apps? So read on and live your own mobile adventure, from exploring food haunts, to your personal cloud, and even up into space!

Are you happy with your Cloud?

Tue, 22 Apr 2014 05:00:34 +0000

I still remember the first time I signed up a Cloud service was with Dropbox in 2009. Then there were not much competitors and choosing a Cloud service to match your needs wasn’t that hard. All I need was the ability to access my files from anywhere and a easy way to share them with my university classmates. In this article, I hope to help you get acquainted with these key players in the Cloud service market today . So are you happy with your Cloud?

Dream It, Build It, Live It: Imagine Cup Finals 2014 – Singapore Chapter

Sat, 19 Apr 2014 02:15:20 +0000

On 19th April, six Singaporean teams battle it out in the Imagine Cup Finals (Singapore Chapter) to earn a spot to the Imagine Cup World Finals in Seattle, Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) on August 2nd, 2014. Here are some highlights from the exciting presentations: 1. Games Category: Life Choices. Team Life Choices developed a 2D game that teaches youths about the implications of life choices that are made by “modelling life as close as possible into a game with controlled environmental settings”. Within the game, users are able to engage fellow players and take part in activities and events to earn experience points. At the end of the game, each player will be provided with a game summary that provides advice on their life choices and recommendations to improve their life experiences. The team hoped to gradually roll out this product across schools in Singapore. 2. World Citizenship Category: I-HEARD (Intelligent Hearing Device). Team Elites created a sophisticated communications tool that utilizes voice and text translation technologies to improve communications for the deaf and mute. The team utilized a range of technologies to offer continuous speech recognition and location tracking capabilities, such as Bing and Nuance speech recognition, Bing translator, and Bing Map and Reverse GeoCoding. The audience was impressed by the sophistication of the tool and the team’s passion for helping to address a real-life challenge for a specific segment of the community that has not been adequately addressed till today. 3. Innovation Category: FACE (Facial Analyzer for Crowd Emotions). Team Stand produced an innovative system that enables the real-time capture and analysis of facial expressions with a wide range of uses in the private and public sector, such as retail, business analytics, and profiling. The system utilizes machine learning algorithms to improve its classification and analysis engine so as to increase its accuracy of predicting race, gender, age, and emotions. With its rich data sets, the system is able to generate a wide range of analytics reports with classification intervals. As noted by the judges, one of the key challenges for Face is the thorny issue of privacy. However, as highlighted by a recent report on marketing for millennials, 40% of millennials are able to identify specific digital information that is tracked and collected by companies. The key to making these data tracking activities acceptable to the general public is to be transparent about the types of data that is tracked, and to assure consumers that these information will not be mistreated. I would like to congratulate all of the teams on their amazing innovations which addresses real-life challenges. As pointed out by Mr. Tan Chun Siong, Microsoft Technical Evangelist and organizer of Imagine Cup (Singapore Chapter), this competition is the start of their journey and he hopes that the teams will continue to work with Microsoft to refine their products and bring it to market. Continue to Dream It, Build It, and Live It! What do you think of the Imagine Cup Finals? Do you have other great events and conferences that you’d like us to cover? Do share with us your experiences and recommendations in the comments below.

Apps Central: February

Wed, 16 Apr 2014 04:30:05 +0000

Apps Central is a monthly newsletter by Microsoft Singapore that shares a range of marquee apps, new apps & top rated apps on Windows and Windows Phone that we hope will help you get the most out of your devices. This is a delayed release (February), but the list of apps are still very relevant. Do check them out and discover some hot new apps!

App Alert: Path

Tired of social media updates from your entire network? Keep it closed and cosy with Path, a trusted place for your personal life. With a limit of only 150 “friends”, you’ll add only the people you care about, where you can be yourself, stay close to the people who matter most, and share life instead of links. With its beautiful design and simple experience, Path is loved by millions of people—and it’s ad-free!

Office Lineup: Pricing and Availabilities

Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:37:05 +0000

Factsheet

Office Lineup: Pricing and Availabilities

As of 15 April 2014

Office 365 subscription-based models

WHAT

Office 365 Personal (NEW)

Office 365 Home

Office 365 University

PRICE (per annum)

S$89 per year

S$138 per year

S$108 for 4 years

PRICE (per month)1

S$9.80

S$13.80

N/A

LICENSES

·1 PC or Mac and 1 Tablet

·5 PCs or Macs & select mobile device

·2 PCs or Macs & select mobile devices

Microsoft launches Office 365 Personal in Singapore

Tue, 15 Apr 2014 14:37:01 +0000

Microsoft launches Office 365 Personal in Singapore

New addition to Office 365 line-up to cater to varying productivity needs of customers today

Singapore, 15 April 2014-- Microsoft Singapore today unveiled Office 365 Personal, a new addition to the Office 365 line-up for consumers. Designed for the individual, Office 365 Personal allows for its users to install Office on one PC or one Mac, as well as one tablet device to be connected to the service. At an annual subscription rate of S$89.00, Office 365 Personal delivers the familiar features of Office in the cloud to subscribers which unlocks user scenarios previously not possible on desktop versions of Office. The new consumer subscription offering suits smaller households or individual users with single PC and tablet devices dedicated for productivity uses. Additionally, Microsoft will continue to offer Office 365 Home Premium subscription for households, now rebranded as Office 365 Home from today. With an annual subscription rate still at S$138.00 per year, Office 365 Home is perfect for households with multiple devices, where it can be installed in up to five PCs or Macs, and five tablets (including iPad). Office 365 Personal and Home usher in new ways to get things done in a new world of work and play through the most complete set of Office applications – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, and Access.:

Developer Feature: Garion Goh

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 04:00:15 +0000

In this month’s Developer Feature series, we are honored to have Mr Garion Goh, a 38 year old veteran; Game Designer/Founder of Apptivise (a Microsoft BizSpark startup) to share with us on his journey of App development.

How did you come up with Apptivise, and does it stand for anything?

Well, I founded another company before Apptivise, called Ectivise, and “Ective” is a combination of “Eco” + “Active”. We added the suffix “-ise” to make “Ective” into a verb, denoting action, which also carries the meaning of “to make or become”, as in materialise, realise, etc, and so it becomes Ectivise; we want an active and vibrant company. So, when I started down the path to focus on App development, Apptivise came naturally from Ectivise.

Apps Central: January

Thu, 10 Apr 2014 04:30:50 +0000

Apps Central is a monthly newsletter by Microsoft Singapore that shares a range of marquee apps, new apps & top rated apps on Windows and Windows Phone that we hope will help you get the most out of your devices. This is a delayed release (January), but the list of apps are still very relevant. Do check them out and discover some hot new apps!

App Alert: Path

Imagine Cup Finals – Singapore Chapter, 19th April 2014

Wed, 09 Apr 2014 05:30:10 +0000

Attention to all students! On 19th April, Microsoft Singapore is opening its doors to ALL OF YOU for the local Imagine Cup 2014 finals. This will be happening at the Microsoft Auditorium, starting with a lovely breakfast at 9:00am. Over the past 6 months, innovative young minds all over Singapore have been dreaming, building and living the inventor’s dream. To make the world a better place, they have created projects to influence critical fields such as healthcare, education and our environment. After rounds of refining their projects, six teams of finalists will pitch to industry experts for the opportunity to represent Singapore in the World Finals held in Seattle this July. Only one will be selected for each of these categories: World Citizenship, Innovation, and Games For the techies, the creatives, and the entrepreneurs – JOIN US! Be inspired. Be the next!

Students: Study Smarter Sessions & World of Work Tour

Mon, 07 Apr 2014 04:30:46 +0000

Students: UCrew LIVE: Get in touch with the no-touch Windows 8.1 Update

Sat, 05 Apr 2014 04:30:27 +0000

Add to Calendar: http://bit.ly/ucrewlive

Livestream: http://bit.ly/ucrewlive1004

Highlights from BUILD 2014 Day 1 - Windows Phone 8.1, Windows 8.1 Update, and more!?

Fri, 04 Apr 2014 07:02:12 +0000

During the Microsoft Build Day 1 keynote, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, Stephen Elop and Terry Myerson discussed advances to Windows for developers and consumers. For reference, online materials and resources can be found: · Microsoft News Center includes the Day 1 press release and key blogs with more details on today’s news · https://twitter.com/msdev · http://twitter.com/bldwin Highlights from Day 1’s Build keynote: · Windows Phone 8.1: Microsoft unveiled Windows Phone 8.1, an even better and more personal smartphone experience, and announced an expanding range of hardware partners and devices. Windows Phone 8.1 will start rolling out to existing Windows Phone 8 users over the coming months. It will also come pre-installed on new phones starting this month. More details can be found on the Windows Phone blog. · Windows 8.1 Update: Microsoft also announced Windows 8.1 Update, a collection of refinements that provide more of what people love about Windows across more devices. Current Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 customers will receive the Windows 8.1 Update for free through Windows Update beginning April 8, 2104. More details can be found on the Windows blog. · Developer Platform: Developers of all types can draw upon their existing skills to deliver universal experiences for Windows Phone 8.1 and Windows 8.1 Update which uses roughly 90% of the same code for phones, tablets and PC, feature IE11 across both devices, and enable the creation a single, universal Windows app that targets all Windows devices. More details can be found on Building Apps for Windows blog. · Developer Tools: Visual Studio 2013 Update 2 has reached the Release Candidate (“RC”) milestone and introduced a key development work stream called Universal Project.

Windows Phone Challenge 5.1 Winners

Tue, 01 Apr 2014 05:33:07 +0000

Thanks for the participation for the past 4 weeks. Here are the winners for each challenges of 5 and 5.1 Nike+ Running App (Windows Phone Challenge 5) SG HDB Reno Viewer Challenge Ideas

IPPT Training application Create an application comparable to 6 weeks training but gearing it towards the 5 IPPT stations. SG IPPT
Car Park Rate application for Cars and Motorcycle An application to check the parking rates for both Cars and Motorcycle in Singapore SG Parking
Basic Driving Theory Test application An test application for Basic theory in Singapore Basic Theory Test
Advance & Riding Driving Theory Test application A test application for SG Driving Theory
SG Hawker Food Application A Hawker center finding application comparable to https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.singapore.good.hawker.foodNo Winner
SG Tech Events application An events list application for Tech Events happening in Singapore SG Tech Events
Singapore/Worldwide Street Photography application A street photography gallery application with comparable UI to http://www.windowsphone.com/en-in/store/app/mowithlove/be91f7a8-87bf-46fd-baf6-842e40ab3654 with the below features. The purpose of this application is to showcase the capabilities of Windows Phone’s camera and its suitability for street photography. Street Zone
Stray cat photography / Gallery App A stray cat photography/gallery application with comparable UI to http://www.windowsphone.com/en-in/store/app/mowithlove/be91f7a8-87bf-46fd-baf6-842e40ab3654 with the below features. The purpose of this application is to showcase the capabilities of Windows Phone’s camera. No Winner
A Singapore landscape photography gallery app A Singapore landscape photography gallery application with comparable UI to http://www.windowsphone.com/en-in/store/app/mowithlove/be91f7a8-87bf-46fd-baf6-842e40ab3654 with the below features. The purpose of this application is to showcase the capabilities of Windows Phone’s camera and its suitability for landscape and scenic photography for Singapore landmarks. No Winner

Technical Update Session on VS 2013!

Tue, 01 Apr 2014 05:00:38 +0000

Event Date:

8th April, 2014, Tuesday

Time:

4.00p.m – 6.00p.m

Venue:

One Marina Boulevard, Microsoft Office, Level 22

To Register, email Rizal at (rizal@bizera.net ).

Supported by:

Visual Studio 2013 and Team Foundation Server 2013 was released on 13th Nov 2013. The new version has enhanced developer productivity and Application Lifecycle Management ( ALM) features making it effortless for teams of every size to collaborate and innovate, helping you build great software with agility and scale.

What's 'Appening: The Education Issue

Mon, 31 Mar 2014 05:00:15 +0000

What’s ‘Appening is a series of lists by Microsoft Singapore detailing some must-have apps for your Windows 8 or Windows Phone device. Do check them out and discover some hot new apps!

Learn as if you were to live forever

History is filled with prominent figures who did not think much of the concept of a formal education. From Mahatma Gandhi to Albert Einstein, the wise saw education as something beyond what we are taught, and encouraged proactive questioning and learning any way we can. With modern technology, indulging in our love for learning has become easier than ever. Much of human knowledge has been digitized and readily accessible through easy-to-use apps on our smartphones and tablets. Have kids who use your smartphone more than you do and leave you with the task of ensuring they learn something from those fun games and apps? Or do you simply wish to fill your spare time with a few information nuggets? No matter the reason, you’ll be able to find apps for all of your learning needs on Windows and Windows Phone in this issue. Happy ‘Apping!

IT Camp is Back with Updated Content!

Fri, 28 Mar 2014 05:00:55 +0000

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

Where are the technical women in tech? A Singaporean Girl's Perspective.

Wed, 26 Mar 2014 04:30:38 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_17585” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Ada Lovelace, world’s first computer programmer.[/caption]

Despite growing sentiment of females becoming increasingly represented in the technology industry, I’ve come to realize that few are engineers themselves. In contrast, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, Jeff Bezos, and just about every other male tech leader started by writing code.

Singapore loves technology. We have the world’s highest smartphone penetration rate, and rank among the highest for internet usage. Of the top 20 companies on jobseekers’ wishlist, half belong in the technology industry. In terms of gender, reports show women love their gadgets and use technology as much (or more if we’re talking social media) as men.

Join us on 28 March 2014 to learn how to Develop and Test on the Cloud!

Tue, 25 Mar 2014 00:13:40 +0000

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

Imagine Cup 2014 Finalist for Singapore

Mon, 24 Mar 2014 05:38:55 +0000

After a long round of judging for the semi-finalist today, we are happy to share with you the top teams who will be moving forward to the finalist round. The finalist team are

Team STAND
Team AVID
TMT Elites
Team Nexi
Team Life Choices
Syncholima

We will be posting for information on the Finals soon :)

Don’t be exposed when support for Windows XP Ends on 8 April 2014

Mon, 24 Mar 2014 04:30:51 +0000

Don’t be exposed when support for Windows XP Ends on 8 April 2014

Still own a Windows XP machine at home? Microsoft launches two free tools to help consumers migrate from Windows XP

Microsoft reminded consumers that it will be ending its support for Windows XP operating system (OS) and Office 2003 on 8 April 2014. This means that there are less than 30 days to go before consumers actively using Windows XP PCs and Office 2003 will be left without security patches and customer support. There are two new free tools from Microsoft to help consumers to migrate from Windows XP as well as a detection software to help users who are unsure find out what version of the operating system they may be using. Based on an estimation using data from StatCounter, a free public tracker, and IDC’s Worldwide PC Tracker, there are about 446,296 PCs in Singapore still running Windows XP. Microsoft will no longer provide security and software updates for 12-year-old Windows XP and 10-year-old Office 2003 after 8 April 2014. There will also not be customer technical service assistance for Windows XP and Office 2003. This means that individuals will no longer receive the updates that help protect their PCs from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software. Joy Quek, Windows Business Group Lead, Microsoft Singapore, said: “Windows XP and Office 2003 were widely used and have helped hundreds of millions of people to get productive for both work and play. But 12 years later, times and technology have evolved. Just like you cannot imagine yourself using a mobile phone which is 12 years old, Windows XP and Office 2003 are not adequate for the new, always-on world that we live in.” When Windows XP was launched in October 2001, notebooks were brick-like with short battery life, as well as very expensive. About 8% of the world was using the Internet in 2001 compared to 39% today¹. We had personal digital assistant (PDA) devices with no access to the internet while the devices we know and love today are almost always connected via social tools and apps. The most popular mobile phones were feature phones and were not touch-enabled. “Always-on, mobile access has become the norm in all our lives. While internet access brings lots of goodness, it’s also a hotbed for cyber criminals who go where the people go. So it’s really critical that consumers who still own Windows XP devices recognise that it’s not just about upgrading to something new. This is about protecting your PC from security threats, especially if you are using the internet. Windows XP wasn’t designed for today’s mobile, always-connected lives, or for protecting businesses and individuals from the millions of new online security threats that have emerged,” Ms. Quek added. Many consumers brush off these security threats, thinking that malicious software and hackers will never target them. In reality, however, the personal information that we have amassed and shared throughout the years are valuable payloads for hackers. In addition, Microsoft’s latest Security Intelligence Report (Vol. 15) found Windows XP SP3 to be 5.68 times more vulnerable than Windows 8 RTM, along with a staggering 82.4% higher malware infection rate. The math is simple: the odds of one getting compromised and losing valuable personal information on a Windows XP machine is far higher than on a modern, Windows 8 devices. Retiring a product is a normal part of the product lifecycle. Windows XP was released in October 2001, and its development began in the late 1990s. While most Microsoft software is supported for 10 years, Windows XP has been supported for more than 12 years, longer than any other Windows version. To minimize this risk, consumers must upgrade to newer operating systems that not only offer enhanced security features like built-in firewall, anti-virus, and rootkit malware protection. Microsoft’s partners like Lenovo, Dell, HP, Asus, Acer have also continued to innovate will new form factors such as tablets and convertibles with a wide range of affordable choices to suit any lifestyle. Windows 8.1 is also well optimized for both touch and non-touch scenarios, where the user may prefer to a mouse and keyboard. “The average cost of a PC today is 40% less than in 2002. Millions of consumers in Asia Pacific have already made the move to Windows 8.1 and are enjoying the benefits of a clean, fast and integrated user experience,” said Ms. Quek. In addition, together with Office 365, Windows 8.1 offers a faster, safer, more productive and more personal experience that supports your work and personal life - from multi-tasking on Word, PowerPoint, and email while watching videos and music, to connecting with your friends and families. Microsoft launched two new free tools to help users migrate from Windows XP:

What's 'Appening: The Love Issue

Fri, 21 Mar 2014 04:30:42 +0000

What’s ‘Appening is a series of lists by Microsoft Singapore detailing some must-have apps for your Windows 8 or Windows Phone device. Many of these lists were meant for release weeks, or even months ago, but the app list is still more or less relevant. Do check them out and discover some hot new apps! Note: A flurry of What’s ‘Appening lists will be regularly published until the latest release has been caught up with.

Microsoft Announces Office 365 Personal

Wed, 19 Mar 2014 04:30:49 +0000

Microsoft has just announced Office 365 Personal, a great new option for individuals to experience Office 365. According to Microsoft, they recognize that there are households of all shapes and sizes and the company is committed to delivering the right Office for everyone – whether that be one person or an entire household. Coming this spring, Office 365 Personal will allow for one PC or Mac and one tablet to be connected to the service and will be available for $69.99 USD/year or $6.99 USD/month1. If you still want Office 365 for the whole family, Microsoft will continue to offer the Office 365 Home Premium subscription for households under a new name – Office 365 Home. Whichever Office 365 subscription you choose, you’ll get all of the subscription benefits including 60 minutes of Skype calling per month, 20 GB of additional OneDrive storage and always be up to date with the most recent version of Office, complete with the newest productivity features. For more information, head on over to the Office blog.

Windows and Windows Phone Better Together Student Competition

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 09:02:42 +0000

Hi Students of Singapore! We have a new challenge specifically targeting Singapore Students from now until 30th April 2014! The “Better Together” contest is a local finals to the Windows and Windows Phone Challenge on www.imaginecup.com. We will have awarding to the Top 5 valid entries from Singapore of Imagine Cup Windows and Windows Phone Challenge

1 x Lenovo Miix8-2 Tablet
1 x Nokia Lumia 1520 Developer Device

To participate in this competition, you would need to

Act now! 15% off 2 Visual Studio Professional with MSDN or Visual Studio Premium with MSDN!

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 03:00:51 +0000

Welcome to the age of extraordinary expectations.

Every app must work flawlessly, seamlessly, and elegantly on every device, all the time. Visual Studio 2013 helps developers blow minds and win business with the most advanced, integrated solution available—state-of-the-art tooling and services designed to help you develop, test, deploy, and support service-powered apps that transform the user experience across all devices. Embrace the cloud at your own pace to quickly and effectively meet customer needs. Develop, test, deploy, and support faster than ever before.

What's 'Appening: New Year

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 03:00:52 +0000

How to do a Speed Test on Windows Phone

Fri, 14 Mar 2014 02:00:14 +0000

Enter the Windows Phone Store
Search for “Speedtest.net”
Install Speedtest.net by Ookla
Run the app and click start in the application bar
Download and upload speed results will be shown
Sharing and more options present in the application bar

Originally done for StarHub Community, which lacked a tutorial for Windows Phone.

IT Camp – Moving to Hybrid Cloud with Windows Azure Virtual Machines & System Center 2012 R2

Thu, 13 Mar 2014 09:02:04 +0000

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

Lessons Learnt From Microsoft BizSpark Summit 2014

Wed, 12 Mar 2014 02:00:45 +0000

On 27th February 2014, Microsoft Singapore held its 1st BizSpark Summit. I was honored to be part of this exciting summit which brought together entrepreneurs and investors in the region to exchange ideas and experiences about the latest developments in the startup scene. Here are three key lessons that I learnt from the Summit:

1. Defining your market size. During the panel discussion on “What investors are looking for in 2014”, panelists pointed out that although there has been exciting developments in the local startup scene, entrepreneurs will need to think globally and not be confined to the Singapore market. An example cited was Redmart, which has successfully raised $3.5 million in its Series A funding and is currently building its logistics capabilities to expand into regional cities. By carefully selecting the right market to target, it will create opportunities and insights that might otherwise be overlooked. There are several methods for gauging the market size of specific industries and customer segments. Besides popular analyst groups such as Gartner Group and Forrester Research, you can also research market statistics on analyst report sites such as IBISWorld and MarketResearch. To determine competitor’s market share and customer growth markets, you can perform calculations based on the competitor’s web traffic that is tracked by Alexa and Quantcast.

Microsoft brings Surface 2 to Singapore

Tue, 11 Mar 2014 02:00:42 +0000

Microsoft brings Surface 2 to Singapore

Surface 2 is the one device for everything in your life, will be available for purchase from March 14, 2014.

SINGAPORE — Feb. 27, 2014 — Microsoft Singapore on Thursday announced that the company is responding to worldwide customer interest by releasing Surface 2, as well as the Type Cover 2 and Touch Cover 2 in Singapore on March 14, giving customers in the city-state the opportunity to click in and do more. “We have been encouraged by the strong interest among consumers for the Surface line of devices in Singapore, where consumers are increasingly looking out for a tablet for both work and play,” said Ian Tan, Surface Consumer Lead, Microsoft Singapore. “Surface 2 builds on the strengths of Surface RT, enabling portability and productivity in one sleek device. With the inclusion of the Office RT productivity suite and a fast-growing Windows app store, you can truly get more done.”

Automate System Center Deployment with PDT

Mon, 10 Mar 2014 03:00:28 +0000

What is PDT? PDT refers to PowerShell Deployment Toolkit. It is a community Toolkit to help automate System Center deployment. PDT is posted to the TechNet Gallery here. PDT consists of 5 files:

Installer.ps1 is the PowerShell script that you run to actually perform the deployment. It should be run from a system that is not a target system for the deployment itself – it can even be run from a workstation.
Workflow.xml contains all the “knowledge” of how to deploy system center – we will look in more detail at the content of this file in later posts.
Variable.xml is the file that you modify to define your deployment.
Downloader.ps1 is a utility to allow you to obtain all the software required to deploy. Using this utility will be the topic of another post.
VMCreator.ps1 is a utility to quickly create domain joined VMs on which to deploy. Using this utility will be the topic of another post

If you are interested, also check out the MMS2013 session on this topic: http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/MMS/2013/SD-B302

Developer Feature: Team Westeros

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 03:00:55 +0000

In this Developer Feature series, Spiffy talks to up-and-coming developers to learn what makes them tick. For our first feature in 2014, we have 35-year-old Team Westeros, made up of computer engineers Du Lingyi, Huang Geng, Meng Kaizhi and Zheng Naijia. Together, they developed an a Windows Phone/Windows 8 app for NUS’ internal Integrated Virtual Learning Environment (IVLE). [caption id=“attachment_17079” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”] Team Westeros members: Huang Geng (Back row second-rightmost), Du Lingyi (Back row third-rightmost), Meng Kaizhi (Back row fourth-rightmost)[/caption]

Got what it takes to be the Tech Elite?

Thu, 06 Mar 2014 05:34:41 +0000

With the cloud revolution in full swing, there’s never been a greater need for live migration and responsive virtualization, dynamic and cost efficient storage, multi-tenant network virtualization, tight access control and data protection. Get to know how Microsoft Technologies deliver all these and more! Revolutionize your business and your career in IT. Join Tech Elite today!

Virtualization, Live Migration, and Multi-Hypervisor Support

Provides an integrated and high-performance virtualization platform with a host of new capabilities including live migration compression and live migration with RDMA as well as integrated virtualization management across different hypervisors.

Singapore foodies, rejoice!

Wed, 05 Mar 2014 04:02:03 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_17241” align=“aligncenter” width=“650”] Image from vulcanpost.com[/caption] At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Nokia has announced that the global food delivery app foodpanda app will launch across the Nokia Asha, Lumia and X family of devices.

Many partners such as Facebook, BBM, Twitter, LINE, Viber, Electronic Arts, Gameloft and Rovio are also making their key apps available across Nokia’s device portfolio of feature phones, Asha, Nokia X and Lumia. Nokia also unveiled new affordable handsets including a new family of smartphones debuting on the Nokia X software platform.

Windows Phone Challenge 5.1, Bridging the Gap Refreshed

Mon, 03 Mar 2014 00:23:51 +0000

We’re back folks! Thanks for waiting. We are refreshing Windows Phone Challenge #5 with #5.1, and the theme is still “Bridging the GAP” on Windows Phone. Here are the ideas, we will be judging these ideas heavily on UX/UI. Please note that there is a limit of 1 prize per developer. The competition timeline is from 3rd March to 31st March 2014. The deadline for submission is 31st March 2014 2359hrs. Do drop me an email at win8sg@microsoft.com if you are participating in any of the below idea. We would swap out non-popular ideas in near future. Approved Challenge Ideas

Windows 8.1 Deployment Jump Start on 12 March 2014

Sun, 02 Mar 2014 22:34:42 +0000

Do you want to deploy Windows 8.1 the “right way”? Find out how to avoid deployment pitfalls and how to streamline the process with a team of experts, including a key Developer of the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT). Benefit from their real-life experience with early adopters, in this recorded session with live Q&A. They start with the basics and then dive deep to teach you how to plan, configure, and manage client deployment to Windows-based computers in Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager and the MDT. Get tips on saving time and money by automating some (if not all) of the process. Why learn the hard way? Join us here on Microsoft Virtual Academy to find out more. Course Outline:

OpenVPN Community on Windows Azure

Tue, 25 Feb 2014 01:09:10 +0000

Looking for a guide to get the OpenVPN Community Version on Azure? Follow the guide below. So first up, What do we need? 1. 30-Day Trial Azure Subscription [link] 2. A little bit of knowledge of Linux shell commands 3. PuTTY [link] 4. OpenVPN GUI [link] Right. Now that we’ve gone through the pre-requisites, let’s move on to the fun part. First up, we gotta head into Azure and create a virtual machine. Let’s quick create a machine as seen below. A shared core and 768MB of RAM is more than enough for just an OpenVPN server as the overhead isn’t too large. If you want to change the region to another region, go ahead but leave the rest as defaults. Note down the password you use and the username. Once you press the create button, give it a little bit for Azure to set-up everything and then proceed to the next step once you see it’s Status in Azure has been updated to “Running” with a green tick at the left. Now we have to configure some endpoints on the virtual machine itself as to make sure that your internet traffic is able to reach the virtual machine. Go to the Endpoints Tab in your Virtual Machine once it’s been created and hit the add button at the bottom. Both buttons have been highlighted in the image below. Once you select add, you will be presented with a small pop-up wizard. Configure it according to the two images below If it is done correctly, you should have an Endpoints tab looking like the one below. If all is good, it’s time to move on to configuring the virtual machine you just set-up! Now’s the time to fire up PuTTY that you downloaded just a moment ago. Fill up the relevant details in this format: username@dnsname Example: azureuser@spiffyrocks.cloudapp.net Hit Open to start connecting to the virtual machine. You will most likely get a warning like the one below but just hit yes. Next up you’ll have to key your password into the black box, don’t worry if you do not see your password being typed and just continue typing it and hit the Enter key when you’re done. You should be logged into your Azure Virtual machine now and should see something similar to the image below. Now, let’s proceed onto this by just typing commands into the box above. Each line means a new command.

RSS Feeds

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 03:11:11 +0000

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Fitness Friendly Apps this CNY to Help you Stick to Your Resolutions

Sat, 15 Feb 2014 07:22:39 +0000

This Chinese New Year, go ahead and indulge and binge! That’s because Nokia has got it all sorted to help you get your fitness back on track once the feasting is over. Check out the fab fitness apps listed below which can help you stay motivated and keep you focused on your goals! Plus, you can now get Chinese New Year Greetings at your fingertips! This Windows Phone app allows you to browse various auspicious greetings in Mandarin, with the English “han yu pin yin” provided and a voice prompt indicating how to say the Mandarin greeting with accuracy - very handy while visiting relatives and friends!

BizSpark Summit Singapore

Thu, 06 Feb 2014 01:31:53 +0000

EVENT AGENDA

9:00 - 10:00am // Registration and Coffee Welcome to the first ever BizSpark Summit in Singapore! Registration begins at 9am and we’ll be serving you free flow of coffee and tea throughout the event - it’s time to start networking with fellow founders and investors. 10:00 - 10:10am // Opening remarks, Microsoft Singapore Nobuhiro Ito, Director, Developer and Platform Evangelism Group, Microsoft Singapore As Director for the DPE group, Nobuhiro leads efforts to build a vibrant solutions ecosystem through evangelism, community engagement and technology marketing. Hailing from Japan, Nobuhiro is a Microsoft veteran who has experienced the huge wave of growth in both the Consumer and Commercial business. 10:10 - 10:30am // Microsoft Ventures Keynote Vanessa Gao, CEO-in-Residence, Microsoft Ventures, Greater China Region Vanessa Gao is the CEO-in-residence of Microsoft Ventures Accelerator in Greater China. The Microsoft Ventures Accelerator program was launched in Beijing in 2012, providing start-ups with free cloud services, workspace and direct market exposure. During this session, Vanessa will share about the programs under Microsoft Ventures and how your startup can benefit from it. Vanessa was previously Industry Director of the Health Solutions Group in Microsoft’s Greater China Region and led all health-related government affairs, partnerships and strategy. 10:30 - 11:00am // What investors are looking for in 2014 [Panel Session] From new innovations in wearable tech and the rise of Bitcoin and big data, which markets interest investors the most? Join the panel discussion to find out what investors are looking out for in 2014. Frances Du, Director, Microsoft Ventures, Greater China Region Ms. Du has over 10 years of work experience in private equity and venture capital in China, with additional strong experience in corporate finance, investment banking, industry and equity research. Tan Ying Lan, Venture Partner, Sequioa Capital India Yinglan is a Venture Partner with Sequoia Capital India. Prior to joining the firm, Yinglan headed the National Framework for Innovation and Enterprise, investing in high-tech growth ventures in the Prime Minister’s Office in Singapore. Earlier, Yinglan had been the founding Director of 3i Venturelab China and an entrepreneur in the digital media industry. Yinglan was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and is a Kauffman Fellow. 11:00am - 12:00pm // Getting to Series A - Fundraising for your startup Dinesh Bhatia, CEO, MyHero Capital is the financial power essential for every potential entrepreneur to scale their product and establish a foothold in the market. Tradehero, developed by MyHero, is a app that allows people to stimulate trades on the stock market without forking hard cash. This BizSpark Plus startup has raised a remarkable US$10 million funding round- one of the largest Series A rounds for a consumer startup in the region and is expanding aggresively. Participating Investors includes Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers and IPV Capital. Dinesh will share about the process of funding raising and how you can overcome the challenges. 12:00 - 1:00pm // Lunch & Lunchtime Concert by Nick Tan We have a special treat for you! Sit back and enjoy local singer-song writer Nick Tan’s performance while enjoying lunch. Nick is no stranger to the local music scene and in the spirit of sharing about entrepreneurial endaveours, he will be also be sharing about how he launched his music career with $0. Sit back, relax and enjoy as he performs for the audience during lunch break. 1:00pm - 1:30pm // The talent crunch - Hiring, training and retaining a great technical team in Singapore [Panel Session] A great technical team can make or break a startup’s product development and speed to go-to-market. A recurring problem we hear from founders is the lack of technical talent and the challenges in hiring the right technical people. In this session, discover what motivates a great technical team and how to go about building it from two companies who have succeeded in doing so. Carl Coryell-Martin, Principal, Neo Neo is a global product innovation company. Neo designs and builds mobile and Web products, creates corporation innovation programs, and transforms internal talent by pairing and teaching. Carl Coryell-Martin has worked with agile software methods since 2000 when he implemented the practices in Kent Beck’s Extreme Programming Explained in his first startup. He was previously the Practice Manager for Pivotal Lab’s Singapore development office. Among his many projects, he built the successful BirdsEye iphone app for North American bird watchers. Mark Glikson, Founder & CEO, Gumbuya Inc Mark Glikson, is the CEO & Founder of Gumbuya Inc. Gumbuya is building a contextual semantic platform = “a way to make things work together, as they were intended”.Prior to Gumbuya, Mark spent 9 years at Microsoft Corporation, most recently as the General Manager of the Developer and Platform Group for Asia Pacific. In his life previous to Microsoft, Mark worked as a Chief Technology Officer, Architect and Founder always centred by how technology can transform the way people live. Shen Qiang, CTO-in-Residence, Microsoft Ventures, Greater China Region Shen Qiang is an accomplished leader with 20 years of engineering development and management experiences. He is the CTO in residence for Microsoft Ventures, focus on building a strong portofolio of startup companies and accelerating their growth. In the past years, he focused on telecom and internet services areas and built several industry significant services. Qiang has the right mix of entrepreneur thinking and start-up style execution. In his rich experience, he built the technical team from scratch and then grow the team for many times, and led them to create some innovative online services successfully. 1:30pm - 2:00pm // Making better decisions with analytics Marc Andreesen once said that “markets that don’t exist don’t care how smart you are.” Whether you’re a startup founder trying to disrupt an industry, or an intrapreneur trying to provoke change from within, your biggest risk is building something nobody wants. By measuring and analyzing as you grow, you can validate whether a problem is real, find the right customers, and decide what to build, how to monetize it, and how to spread the word. In this session, Dibyo will share how analytics can help you make better decisions. Dibyo Haldar, Analytics Manager, Facebook Dibyo is an analytics and insights professional with 11 years of experience across Coca-cola, Marketics and Skype. He is currently an analytics manager at Facebook. 2:00pm - 3:00pm // Startup Showcase Coming soon! Looking for amazing pitches from some of our most innovative startups? After a rigorous selection process, seven startup finalists will pitch to our Microsoft Ventures team and stand a chance to pitch at Startup Asia 2014. Startups will be pitching live in front of the panel of judges and investors. So take a look how these startups deliver their pitches and get some tips for your own. Our Partners

Windows Phone Challenge #5, Bridging the GAP

Tue, 28 Jan 2014 05:26:23 +0000

We’re back folks! Thanks for waiting. In Windows Phone Challenge #5, the theme is “Bridging the GAP” on Windows Phone. We have taken your feedback from the past Windows Phone Challenges into consideration and will be exercising flexibility for ideas generation for #5. How? You will suggest the Ideas for this Challenge. We will give priority to ideas relevant to Singapore’s context. We have 3 recommended ways to generate Challenge Ideas, but please don’t let that stop you from proposing your own original ideas :) *Update* First 10 approved Challenge Ideas will be awarded 20GB of OneDrive storage space for a year!

Qoo10: Chinese New Year Edition

Mon, 27 Jan 2014 10:28:02 +0000

Chinese New Year is an important traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the first day of the year of the lunar calendar. There will be many great sales and necessary shopping to be done. I have compiled some of the best deals you can get from Q0010 Singapore (which coincidentally, has a Windows Phone app here). Usually, our local shopping malls will be packed to the brim with people, so here’s a good way to beat the crowd! *Shipping fees are waived when you purchase any CNY dresses. #1 Wearing New Clothes It is believed that we should start the New Year off right with new clothes. From head to toe, all your clothes and accessories should be brand new. Some girls prefer wearing traditional dress like the Qi Pao, but usually most girls just wear modern western-style clothing. People wear red on Chinese New Year because red represents prosperity, fortune and luck. At Q0010, there are plenty of casual work dress and party dresses that are red for the festive season. This will be perfect for Chinese New Year. Ladies, click here. Gentlemen, click here. #2 Red Packets (Ang Baos)

BizSpark Startups - Join us for Pitch Training by Tech In Asia

Thu, 16 Jan 2014 04:04:24 +0000

Hey BizSpark Startups**!** Microsoft BizSpark will be organizing BizSpark Summit Startup Pitch where startups will pitch to Microsoft Ventures and stand a chance to enter Startup Asia 2014 Arena to bring home a prize money of US$10,000 in cash. There will be two qualifying rounds. Pitch Training by Tech in Asia Startups can register to attend a free pitch training session by Willis Wee, Founder of Tech In Asia. Each participating startup will give a 5-10 minutes pitch, followed by Q&A and discussion. Participants will be provided with training and feedback on pitch delivery techniques. *Only for 20 selected BizSpark startups. The business pitch will be 5-10 minutes compelling and concise summary of a proposed solution or product. Slides, demonstrations and other presentation materials are encouraged. Pitch to Microsoft Ventures at BizSpark Summit 2014 The top startups will be invited to BizSpark summit, which will be held on 27th February 2014 at Microsoft Singapore Auditorium. Six qualifying startups will then present to a panel of distinguished judges from Microsoft Ventures China and stand to qualify for Startup Arena 2014 at Startup Asia. Details of the pitch training: Date: 5th February 2014 Venue: Microsoft Singapore, One Marina Boulevard Level 22, Room 22BR-01 Time: 1pm- 4pm Agenda for Pitch Training Workshop: 1:00 - 1:15 “What makes a good pitch?” 1:15 - 1:30 “Guidelines on how to create a good pitch” 1:30 - 2:15 “Pitch creation (with template provided)” 2:15 - 2:50 Pitch Practice 2:50 - 3:00 Wrap up Pitch Criteria: 1. Clear, concise, professional and stayed within the ten-minute time frame. 2. Product or service concept, customer benefits and market opportunity are clear, compelling. 3. Business seems viable and feasible. The online registration form: http://sdrv.ms/1lAfF3N Deadline: 28 January 2014 Thank you for your interest. We look forward to hearing great pitches from you guys!

Winners for Microsoft and Nokia Christmas Campaign

Wed, 15 Jan 2014 08:29:15 +0000

Hi folks! Kept you waiting for long enough! Here are the winners for the Microsoft Nokia Christmas Campaign we held in the month of December! The winners criteria are based not only on the usefulness of application, but also on international appeal and features set (speech, live tiles, lock screen etc…) available as well. We will reach out to the winners when the prizes are ready for collection! Do look forward for Windows Phone Challenge #5 launching soon…. Winners for Lumia 1520 Letting Go MyORD The Real Singapore Winners for Lumia 920 Passport.me.HD StockFolio Tank Wars alarmzz cartoonify mp3 downloader quran inspirations Winners for Update your app: Operational Category NLB flipmag 4dtoto@sg Winners for Update your app: Functional Category Medium Reader nsnotify sg post group tiles my overseas notification Pic Love japan travel chat

Windows Phone App Studio (Beta)

Mon, 13 Jan 2014 03:38:56 +0000

Recently, Microsoft has made another effort to engage developers with Windows Phone, especially for those who are novices or who are located in emerging markets. App Studio (Beta), is a web based windows phone application making tool, which allows developers to quickly create and publish their app in the Windows Phone Store with just four easy steps. I think that App Studio is a great online tool to create and publish small personal applications. It can be an app for your favorite sport or a movie, it can be even for your city or family. I tried creating few apps with it, and prepared a workflow screenshot which show a bit about the system. What are the four steps involved in app studio?

Top 2014 Tech & Startup Events and Conferences

Mon, 06 Jan 2014 02:59:32 +0000

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2014, another great year of exciting innovations and discoveries. A new year brings about new beginnings and a whole new line-up of exciting technology and startup events and conferences for innovators, developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and passionate fans of the technology and startup scene. Technology and Startup Events and Conferences in 2014 I have tried to compile a list of scheduled technology and startup events and conferences for 2014 as follows: (Please note that this list is not exhaustive. Feel free to suggest events and conferences to be added in the comments below!) 1. Technology.

See and do more of what you love with the affordable Nokia Lumia 1320 smartphone

Fri, 03 Jan 2014 10:40:57 +0000

See and do more of what you love with the affordable Nokia Lumia 1320 smartphone SINGAPORE - Nokia’s latest do-it-all Lumia smartphone is here! Bringing many of the high-end Lumia innovations into a 6-inch screen smartphone at a lower price point, the Nokia Lumia 1320 brings consumers the latest imaging features, like Nokia Camera and Nokia Storyteller, the most loved Lumia experiences like the global mapping and location services from HERE, and unlimited streaming of ad-free music with Nokia Mix Radio. All these come together to offer consumers a compelling choice in the world of large-screen smartphones! “Building on the success of the Lumia 520, we looked to further expand our innovation offering by bringing the best Lumia experiences from Nokia and the latest from Windows Phone to a large screen smartphone, at a more affordable price,” said Gary Chan, Head of Marketing, Pan Asia at Nokia. “With its large screen, warm and playful design and our rich imaging experience, the Nokia Lumia 1320 is an integral addition to our Windows Phone portfolio.” These are some of the things you will most enjoy in your new Nokia Lumia 1320. Getting more productive With a built in Microsoft Office, Nokia Lumia 1320 allows people to do what they want, whenever they want. Viewing and editing Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on the move, while keeping the original formatting becomes even more powerful on a 6-inch screen powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor. You can also back up documents with 7GB of free cloud storage via SkyDrive. A creative and fun imaging experience Nokia Lumia 1320 allows people to take advantage of Nokia’s rich and powerful imaging experiences to have more fun with pictures. The new Nokia Camera integrates the most popular imaging modes – Pro, Smart, and video – into one seamless picture-taking experience on the Nokia Lumia 1320. Nokia Storyteller makes stories come to life on the six inch screen of the Nokia Lumia 1320 by automatically integrating images with HERE location information into a chronological picture journey on a map. Creative Studio allows editing pictures easily into photo collages and making the images come to life with different filters or color popping effects. Get a rich package of the most loved Lumia experiences Nokia Lumia 1320 comes with a wealth of imaging, entertainment and location based experiences allowing you to see and do more on the six inch screen. Stream unlimited music for free with Nokia MixRadio without ads or sign on. You can even download your favorite playlists for offline enjoyment. HERE Maps, HERE Drive(+) and HERE Transit offer the most complete, intuitive, and personal location experience. Now with LiveSight in HERE Drive(+) you can easily locate your parked car while in HERE Transit it will be easier to find nearby transit stations. On a larger screen, finding places and navigating to destinations become even easier. With an 8GB internal memory and expandable 64GB memory card slot you can store a wealth of content both created and collected. Entertainment and gaming made better With the latest apps, the best from Nokia, and the best from Microsoft supported by LTE connections, you can make the most out of the six inch screen. Xbox brings you the latest games for a better gaming experience on the six inch screen. Get the amazing magazine experience with Zinio or watch your favorite series and movies on your Nokia Lumia 1320. A third column in the start screen allows you to bring more of the important live tiles to your start screen. With more and enhanced live tiles on a larger screen you see more of your calendar, email, notes and music, at a glance. With the Papyrus app coming to Windows Phone for the first time, you can make handwritten notes on your Nokia Lumia 1320. The supersensitive screen on Nokia Lumia 1320 allows you to do even more and faster even with gloves on and with long finger nails. This big screen beauty also comes with the same size battery as the Nokia Lumia 1520 – allowing for up to 21 hours of 3G talk time and almost 100 hours of music playback. The Nokia Lumia 1320 will be available at an RRP of SGD459 from Saturday, 4 January 2014 at Nokia Stores and Nokia Solution Partners. All 3 local operators will also be retailing the device with attractive data plans. The Nokia Lumia 1320 will be available in four colours – orange, yellow, white, and black.

2 Attorneys Supporting and Growing Scotland's Startup Community

Mon, 30 Dec 2013 03:30:15 +0000

Peter McBride (L) and Jim Adams(R), Scintilla.

In Edinburgh, Scotland, Huifen met Jim Adams, a patent attorney with a passion for helping startup companies in Scotland and beyond. Jim and his colleague Peter McBride (both attorneys) recently launched their own IP firm, Scintilla, specialising in patent and design filing. They support the startup community in Scotland by providing mentoring and cost-conscious, value-added IP services. Huifen was naturally intrigued, being a lawyer herself and a regular mentor to Singapore startups. She speaks to Jim to find out more. 1. How long have you been a patent attorney for? Which are your technical areas of specialty? We have nearly a quarter of a century of experience between us! Pete has worked in the patent profession since 2000, and I started in 2001. We specialise in electronics and software, covering a wide range of technologies such as microelectronics, telecoms, information technology, software, optoelectronics, nanotechnology and the physical sciences. 2. Is it correct to say that your firm can file applications for patents and registered designs in the UK as well as for the EU? Yes, we can secure patents and registered designs by representing our clients in the UK and in Europe, acting for clients from around the world. Clients come to us due to the specialist nature of the procedures involved in obtaining UK or European rights. Sometimes they need to appoint a local representative. We also have expertise in managing global patent portfolios, including securing US patents, which is especially useful for business method or less technical software inventions that may not be patentable in Europe. Once filed, a patent application undergoes a rigorous examination procedure and we are involved in arguing our clients’ case to get the patent granted. We also file registered designs for our clients. The Community Registered Design is a cost effective way to obtain EU protection for the appearance of a product. Other IP services we provide include patent renewals, due diligence, freedom to operate assessments, patent infringement and validity opinions. 3. When did you start giving special support to the startup community? What motivated this? Any startup is motivated by passion and enthusiasm. In our case, we are excited about innovation and we naturally want to engage with and be part of the local startup community. There is a natural affinity because we are a startup ourselves, launching in January 2013. Our firm was founded on belief that working with startups is some of the most fun and rewarding work that we do. We love to help startups get established and to be a part of their growth so we can have long term relationships. We have to support startups because they find themselves in a “Catch 22” situation with patents, where they have to protect their inventions before they make or raise money. But quality patent protection costs money! 4. How do you provide this support? We provide mentoring support, and also do our best to bill for work in a way to ensure value for startup clients. The key aspect for us is making sure that our actions match our words, and through spending time in the startup community, and through the work we have done for our early stage clients we are showing that our support is genuine. We recently had the privilege of being a mentor for budding entrepreneurs at a “3 Day Startup” event in Edinburgh organised by Launch.ED and supported by the Scottish Institute for Enterprise and the Open Innovation Project. Startups inevitably need more guidance than established clients, because they are busy learning about many new aspects of their business, and they may be unfamiliar with intellectual property. When it comes to chargeable work, we operate where possible on a fixed price basis. We have set fees for repetitive, smaller tasks. For larger tasks, such as patent drafting, we agree on a fee with the client after scoping out the job. We are committed to getting to know our startup clients and fostering a supportive relationship. So, outside of agreed jobs, we do not charge for phone-calls or meetings to just “catch up”, or for minor administrative tasks, such as providing quick updates to help startups keep track of their portfolio. The end result is a process that matches the billing to the value that has been added, and is predictable. Predictability of costs is crucial for startups. Initial consultations for prospective new clients are also free of charge with no obligation. 5. How do you balance between the usual corporate clients and the start-up cases which you take? Corporate client work represents a reliable source of income. But in our view for proper job satisfaction, this needs to be balanced with the privilege of making a real difference to a fundamental aspect of the business of a startup or a SME (small or medium business). So we do need to make sure we have the right balance of work. Key to our own success is to recruit more patent attorneys who share our enthusiasm. Of course, when startups grow and succeed that helps us, but we are lucky to be in Scotland where there are so many dynamic young companies, an active angel investment network and a thriving academic network, so we are confident that simply being part of the startup community will reap its rewards. 6. Is there anything else of interest, which you’d like to mention? We are developing some product offerings that will provide innovative services for startups but (in true IP professional style) cannot reveal these yet, so watch this space to see what comes next! Additionally, there will be interesting changes for intellectual property in Europe and in Scotland. There are moves toward a unitary European patent. Currently, a European patent provides a single procedure for examination and grant for up to 38 European Patent Convention states. However, after grant a European patent is validated in selected states for enforcement through the different national courts. The proposed unitary patent with a Unified Patent Court will allow decisions on patent infringement and validity to apply with equal effect across all EU Member States. There is a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014. Whatever the outcome, the indicators are that there will be continuity in the legal framework for protecting intellectual property rights. We are confident that Scotland will continue to be a safe and cost-effective entry point for European intellectual property protection.

Whizmeal: Healthier food for kids

Fri, 27 Dec 2013 03:30:54 +0000

Today, we are glad to have an exclusive interview with our very own Singapore-based tech startup, Whizmeal, founded by Soon Mei. She explains her idea and her web portal that was featured in Tech in Asia, e27, and Yahoo! News. What is Whizmeal about? Soon Mei: Whizmeal was designed to enable parents to understand more about school meals’ nutritional values. By understanding more about nutrition, parents are able to pre-order healthier meal choices, monitor their child’s daily intake and constantly give their child advice on what food they should eat. How does it work? At our website’s “Order Now”, parents and their child will be able to select either a package meal program or item from a la carte menu. During this pre-ordering process, parents and their child are able to browse the calendar days and read the meal details of the meal they prefer. To complete the meal ordering process, parents will be directed to an online payment system. How and why did you get started in this industry? Why the decision to build this startup? Soon Mei: Having been in the F&B Industry for the past 7 years and running the Singapore Food Festival in 2006 & 2007, I noticed that people never really knew if they were eating healthily or not. For example, one would simply assume that eating vegetables is considered as a healthy diet when in fact, the vegetables have been stirred fried with lots of oil. As such, I felt that the gap between the public and Food & Nutrition is far too great and I strongly believe in educating the young about Food and Nutrition so as to empower them to make better food choices when they grow up. Furthermore as parents, we do not understand how the meals are prepared, thus, I wish to use my experience and knowledge to make a difference and address this gap in the school canteen and childcare market. Did you seek out any relevant mentors and people for help prior to startup? Soon Mei: Yes. I took up a program on Specialist Diploma in Franchise and Enterprise Development and started the inception of Whizmeal, as a project. The hands-on experience allowed our team to meet up with several private and public schools to understand the key concerns and consideration at current canteens. As a member of Founder’s Institute of Singapore Chapter, we are very privileged to be able to meet up with Jeff for his advice.

Novelties are Overrated

Thu, 26 Dec 2013 03:59:03 +0000

Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day! :D I’ve been developing more and more interest in UX (User Experience). UX is a very intriguing subject of study as it involves a lot of thinking, studies, research, testings, and experiments. Here’s a Tumblr blog that I’m following - http://52weeksofux.com. Basically, you’ll get weekly dose of UX for you to read on, ponder upon, and implement on your work throughout the week. I am in my 2nd week, and this particular paragraph strikes me the most.

How to effectively promote your Windows Phone App with Facebook ads

Wed, 25 Dec 2013 03:10:22 +0000

*Disclaimer: Facebook might make massive changes to its ad platform (they like to revamp it every once in a while and confuse people) - this guide is correct as of December 2013. So you’ve finished developing your app and it’s now published in the Windows Phone Store. Now, the next critical phase of your journey as developer begins - how to get end users. If you’ve got a bit of spare cash to buy some ad space online to promote your app, why not consider buying ads on Facebook? It’s relatively affordable compared to other forms of paid media marketing, and self-serve ads make it easy for the average individual to purchase ad space on the social media platform. Just follow the 5 steps below: 1. Click into the Ads Manager function on your Facebook home page’s left-hand menu column. You’ll need to add a payment method where your ads will be charged: Facebook coupons, credit and debit cards, Paypal or debit. 2. Click on the ‘Create an Ad’ green button on the top right hand side of your Ads Manager page. 3. Select ‘Clicks to Website’ as your objective for the ad buy and insert your Windows Phone App URL in the field. (The ‘App Installs’ function isn’t integrated yet for Windows Phone apps) 4. Upload images that will show as your ad. Try to crop your images 600 pixels x 315 pixels for optimal viewing and a more professional look. You can also select stock images from Shutterstock via ‘Find Images’. 5. Now this is the crucial point: Under user targeting in ‘Create Your Audience’, be sure to select the subcategories of Windows Phone > Nokia Device Owners. Feel free to add other targeting subjects under ‘Precise Interests’ to target users who might be more likely to download or purchase your app. For example, for the Radio SG Windows Phone app, I would use interests such as #music and #radio. Remember, the more targeted your ad, the better the response! According to Facebook, there seems to be 84,000 Facebook users in Singapore who are Windows Phone users. Adding more interests will lower the ad’s potential reach, but will result in a better click-through and install rate. And that’s it! Choose between bidding for clicks or impressions and you’re done. Facebook usually takes less than 24 hours to vet and approve your ads for public consumption. Feel free to let us know in the comments below how your Facebook ads perform.

Christmas with Microsoft Student Partners

Mon, 23 Dec 2013 06:10:09 +0000

On 21st December, Microsoft Singapore celebrated Christmas with its family of Microsoft Student Partners (MSPs) by treating them to a good time at The Escape Artist. Together, the students put their wits and wiles to solve challenging puzzles in a thrilling environment. Big props to these awesome students for juggling both their academic and student ambassador commitments so well in the past semester! Who are the Microsoft Student Partners? Microsoft Student Partners are technology enthusiasts, trend-setters, and revolutionary thinkers. As MSPs, they act as ambassadors of Microsoft technologies and participate in frequent campus initiatives to demonstrate and train students in developing expertise for tools such as Visual Studio and MS Office. Some may mistaken them as geeks, but I prefer calling them passionate and inventive. Having met and spoken with a good number of them, I can assure that this is a network of fun-loving, bold-thinking and resourceful students regarded as technology leaders by their peers. Many of their alumni have gone places, building start-ups, representing in global competitions and landing jobs at big international names. Being also the inquisitive sort, the MSPs have monthly meet-ups hosted by Microsoft Singapore where they learn about technology, attend workshops, give presentations, and meet exciting people both within the industry and its surrounding ecosystem. Since the MSPs come from all sorts of backgrounds and institutions, every meeting further serves as a good opportunity for friendly catch-ups and relationship building. It is not uncommon for MSPs to support and even “impart new skills” to their peers from other institutions. Personally, I’ve been encouraged by their technical skills, excitement and zealousness. At a stage where I’m starting to find it increasingly difficult to pursue my dreams (read: family, bills, commitments, life…) it’s nice to be reminded by their passion to do great things with technology.

New Windows Azure Network Security Whitepaper Available

Wed, 18 Dec 2013 04:52:35 +0000

When comes to public cloud like Windows Azure, security is always a popular area for many customers. A new technical whitepaper on Windows Azure Network Security is released to help IT Administrator to understand the security mechanisms within Windows Azure. Windows Azure networking provides the infrastructure necessary to securely connect your virtual machines to one another, as well as bridge between the cloud and your on-premises datacenter Few of the questions I get asked a lot are around protection against DDOS and intrusion detection. The whitepaper explains those points in detail.

5 Christmas apps for your Windows Phone

Wed, 18 Dec 2013 03:30:08 +0000

It’s December and nearly Christmas! To get you even more into the festive mood, we’ve put together a hand-picked list of our favourite Christmastime-themed apps. You can use them count down to the big day, make some delicious desserts for family and friends, or simply add a dash of winter cheer to your phone. 1. Christmas Time Pro (Free)

Want to know how many days, hours, minutes, seconds, and even milliseconds until Christmas? Christmas Time Pro will provide a countdown for next Christmas Day. At midnight on Christmas Eve, the time will freeze while Santa delivers gifts throughout the world. 2. Celebrate Christmas (Free) Christmas is made more enjoyable as this application has it all: Christmas decorations, prayers, carols and locations of churches. You can also try your hand at preparing the Christmas recipes. Chocolate tarts, fluffy white marshmallows and traditional Christmas pudding… need we say more? 3. NORAD Santa (Free) NORAD Tracks Santa App is the official mobile app of the NORAD Tracks Santa program. Watch the day’s countdown to Santa’s flight, follow Santa’s progress, and learn about NORAD and its mission. Each year, NORAD dutifully reports Santa’s location on Dec 24 to millions of children and families across the globe. 4. Rail Rush (Free) This Christmas, step into your cart and begin this exploring frenzy! Accelerate through insanely fast rails while tilting and swiping to avoid the obstacles. You can also equip your cart with power ups to extend your chances inside the mine, while completing missions and ranking up to be the ultimate explorer. 5. Baker Business 2 Christmas Free (Free) Own your very own merry bakery and bake your way to the top by making tons of delicious treats for your customers. You’ll be able to expand your business and customize your bakery; all the while fulfilling your customer’s orders and boosting your bakery’s rating, making you #1 bakery in town. Love any of these Christmas apps? Do tell us what you think in the comments below.

Windows Phone Challenge #3 Winners

Tue, 17 Dec 2013 10:31:51 +0000

Hi folks, here are the winners for the Windows Phone Challenge #3! Nokia Lumia 1020 Challenges 1. A filter application which allows users to show filter effects in real time while taking picture and add the filter effect after taking a picture. This application should provide the user with 10 interesting filter effects (you are to come up with these effects), and you are encouraged to use the Nokia Imaging SDK for this. The application would provide users In-App-Purchase features to purchase additional interesting filters. You are free to come up with the revenue dynamics of this application, but the app should be 100% free to download from the store. The application should also save a 38MP picture into isolated storage if the detected phone is a Lumia 1020.To maximize your potential of getting revenue from purchases of filters, you should add a gallery of user generated photos with the effects. You should also provide a “trial” to some of these paid filters, example use for 3 times. No Winner. 2. A photography application which can trigger one or more other Windows Phone to take pictures. The intention of this application would be to great a bullet time effect. The master phone should be able to connect or sync up with the slave(s) phones via NFC or other means you deem fit. Once synced, the master phone should be able to trigger the slave(s) phones in a continuous manner. The slave phones should send the pictures taken back to the master phone in chronological order in which the photos are taken. If possible, the delay time between 2 slave phones taking pictures should be less than 10ms. You can considering doing a burst mode of each of the slave phones, and selecting the ones which makes the chronological order. Bullet Time Camera and Action 3. A video diary application similar to the popular iOS and Android application, one second everyday. Here’s the original idea One Second Everyday ; but we would love to have you take it further. While the application strictly follows the calendar, this windows phone version of the application should also allow the user to use it during holiday and during events to take lots of 1 seconds snippets. Do note that you would have to save the videos into isolated storage (when you are travelling, there is no Internet) and then onto an online storage services. The online service would then trim these videos to exactly 1 second each and stitch them together. One Second Diary 4. An optical object regconition app comparable to CamFind. You can find an API for this on mashape. No Winner. Nokia Lumia 1520 Challenges 1. An application to show the dengue hotspots in Singapore. You should make use of Here Maps for this application. This application show make use of Live Tiles to rotate information about the dengue hotspots in Singapore. The application should also users to voice query for hotspots in a region and response with speech. Example users will ask “appname, is bukit panjang a dengue hotspot?”, the application should reply “Yes or no” and show the map of the region. If possible, implement a push notification update which will show the users what are the newest reported dengue hotspots. Here’s a website you can start off with Dengue SG Dengue Hotspot 2. An application to check the timing of SMRT Trains at different stations and provide news of Breakdown. This application should allow user to pin their favorite station(s) as a live tile(s), and this live tile should show the arriving timing of the next train. User may pin more than 1 station live tiles. There should also be a “status watch " live tile which would show the general status of the trains running. If there is any delay or breakdown, this live tile should show the information in text. SG Train Time 3. An application which is similar or comparable to myENV application from NEA No Winner. 4. An application which is similar or comparable to iTown@SG from Town Council MyTown@SG 5. A competitive application similar or comparable to SBS Iris NextBus. The application should allow users launch the application via Speech to query by Buses Number / Bus Stop Number. Example “app name, timing for bus 190” or “app name, bus timing at bus stop 12345”. The application will then launch and ask you for more information (if necessary) before displaying the wait time. The application should also allow you to pin a secondary live tile with the wait time for a specific bus at a specific bus stop. Pressing this live tile will launch the application to give you more information on the bus and its bus route. SingAdventure Nokia Lumia 920 Sudden Death Challenges 1. An application to help create SMS for overseas notification. You have to follow the list of countries available from www.ns.sg for overseas notification. This application should allow the user to use speech to launch the application from the start screen. Example “appname overseas notification to australia from 1st October 2013 to 10th October 2013” will help you to create the SMS template to 36767. “MNC NRIC Country of Visit Departure Date (DD/MM/YYYY) Return Date Contact Number” This application should prompt you for your NRIC and Contact Number on first launch and store it into the isolated storage. NSNotify 2. An application to show the programme schedule for MioTV and Starhub Cable TV SG TV Guide 3. An client application for reading sgag post, Singapore’s version of 9gag. SGAG 4. An client application similar to 4DTOTO@SG, but showing big sweep results for Singapore Speech is optional for this as Big Sweep numbers are really long. :) BigSweep@SG 5. A fan application for Internet Explorer Mascot Inori Aizawa. You are free to use this as a template, please use this Theme Pack link for the “soundboard” section. Do change the background, fonts, wallpapers and videos to suit the theme of IE or Inori Aizawa. Also include the video from Anime Festival Asia Special Video and add the video theme song as a Windows Phone Ringtone. If you need pictures for wallpaper, refer to this skydrive account to select relevant ones. Do ensure that the sounds from the soundboards are savable as SMS and other alert tones on the Windows Phone No Winner Inori Aizawa

AppCampus: Get funding for your Windows Phone app

Mon, 16 Dec 2013 03:00:05 +0000

AppCampus is a mobile application accelerator program managed by Aalto University in Espoo, Finland. This is an 18 million euro joint investment between Microsoft and Nokia to foster mobile application development on Windows Phone and any other Nokia platform. To drive innovation and business opportunities in Finland’s mobile ecosystem and beyond, Microsoft and Nokia invested 9 million euros each into the “AppCampus” program - a newly established mobile application development program at Aalto University during the next three years starting from spring 2012. The AppCampus program has been set up to foster the creation of innovative mobile applications for the Windows Phone ecosystem, and in addition, Nokia platforms, including Symbian and Series 40, to create a new generation of self-sustaining mobile startups. Kicked off in May 2012, AppCampus is led and managed by Aalto University, which has a growing reputation as a hotbed of new startup companies. AppCampus is intended to attract thousands of application proposals from students and entrepreneurs from all over the world. Successful applicants will receive awards varying from 20.000, 50.000 to 70.000 euros, depending on the complexity of the app. In addition, AppCampus also provides training in mobile technology, design and usability, coaching and marketing support. Windows Phone Marketplace and Nokia Store offer local and global business opportunities to program participants via distribution to consumers around the world. AppCampus doesn’t take any equity or commission from the investment. The only requirement is that successful applications are expected to be available exclusively on Windows Phone Store or Nokia Store for the first 90 days. Got an app idea? Apply today and send in your submission here!

MVA Course Review: Tune Your Site and Web Apps to Maximize Traffic Jump Start

Fri, 13 Dec 2013 03:30:49 +0000

Learn how to maximize traffic to your applications and websites by enhancing your SEO and SEM strategies in this 2-part jump start. Each half is an hour long and offers a variety of different scenarios and demos that will provide you with an introductory overview to search and the role it plays in attracting and winning you new audiences. Part 1 of the module gives an introduction to Search Engine Optimization (SEO), its role in the online world and the ways in which it has been growing. SEO is about improving usability on a website. It is the organic process of improving a website to make it more relevant to searchers and search engines. Some questions that will be answered in the first half include:

Top 5 Free APIs in Singapore

Wed, 11 Dec 2013 03:30:58 +0000

Big data has been a buzzword of the tech landscape in recent years, with apps being one of the key mediums where the average consumer can make sense of real-time trends and other interesting insights often obscured by big data. [caption id=“attachment_16673” align=“aligncenter” width=“610”] Image from www.visibletechnologies.com[/caption] So here, we have compiled a list of the top 5 free APIs in Singapore to create your next bestselling app! 1. Government: data.gov.sg http://data.gov.sg/common/developer.aspx This is the first-stop portal to search and access publicly-available data published by the Singapore Government. Launched in June 2011, data.gov.sg brings together over 8,600 datasets from 60 government ministries and agencies. Key datasets include:

BizSpark Night: Chinese Venture Fund QuestVC (Part 3)

Mon, 09 Dec 2013 03:00:49 +0000

At the recent BizSpark Night for December, we had a fireside chat with James Tan, founder and managing partner of QuestVC, China’s leading seed to angel fund for technology. He disclosed how he started 55tuan (a successful Chinese group buy site) and then, QuestVC. How James started 55tuan and then QuestVC James went to China on a scholarship, meeting his cofounders of 55tuan from Qinghua University. 55tuan is currently one of the largest group buy websites in China. He further explained that it was not easy for them to sustain 55tuan, as China experienced a myriad of Groupon clones over the past couple years, but the majority of them could not keep up with the fast pace of China’s tech industries and went out of business. James later with his partner decided to start on another project called QuestVC, which was a venture capitalist firm based in China. This attracted many e-commerce companies to seek help from QuestVC to get funding and mentoring opportunities. However, James’ stand is that he also hopes to help to all companies in other tech industries. How many startups has QuestVC invested in? James explained that he funds companies at the seed to angel stage. QuestVC invested in 6 companies over 1.5 years and 2 Singapore tech companies, Carousel and Burple. The companies they invested are independently managed and display high potential in the market. Carousel allows consumers to sell their items on their platform and get cash in return while Burple is a localised food app for photo sharing. With the help of QuestVC for seed funding, they are intending to expand their influence to China and also Singapore’s neighboring countries, Indonesia and Malaysia. What suggestion do you have for startups that wish to apply for QuestVC? What do they need to do? James encouraged startups that wish to seek funding from QuestVC to source for strong financial backing first. One of such ways is to seek help from government agencies such as ACE or SPRING Singapore. They provide necessary information, connections and provide financial grants such as series A funding to assist companies to progress. After applying from government agencies, startups can then apply for QuestVC with their working prototype and discuss with James for seed funding and support for expanding overseas. Of course, the team will need to have the ability to articulate the opportunity and how they going to execute their ideas. What is the start-up scene like in Singapore? Are their any suggested programmes to promote entrepreneurship? James pointed out that in Singapore, there are many potential graduates that choose not to be startup entrepreneurs because they feel the need to work in big multinational corporation companies. The vast majority of them are not willing to take up risks with a startup that may or may not succeed. To better foster the entrepreneurship dream of starting a tech company, the NUS Overseas College (NOC) programme collaborated with the highly prestigious Tsinghua University for students to study entrepreneurship and internship full time with companies in Beijing. The programme will play a key role in nurturing entrepreneurs who then can engage with China. James is supportive of the programme and he hopes to see more batches of entrepreneurs coming from Singapore in near future. We hope that BizSpark Night 2013 has provided valuable advice to startup entrepreneurs. We are grateful and want to thank our distinguished speakers for taking time from their busy schedules to contribute to this meaningful event.

BizSpark Night: Tips for Venturing Into China (Part 2)

Fri, 06 Dec 2013 03:00:37 +0000

For December’s BizSpark Night, we were privileged to have Gary Gan as one of our guest speakers. Gary is the Business Development Director for TradeHero, a mobile stock market stimulation app. TradeHero recently made headlines for raising $10 million in series A funding from KPCB China and IPV Capital, a Chinese-based venture capital firm that invests in early stage high-growth technology firms. He gave us some practical tips to startups starting their first ventures into China. China has obvious potential, with a massive domestic market hungry for tech With a population 1.35 billion strong and over 700 million users with internet access, China is a lucrative market to be tapped. Gary strongly encouraged more tech companies to enter China where the consumption demand for tech - be it mobile, social or web - is massive. This can be demonstrated by the android store exceeding its available 500 applications, which also justifies the intense competition. Many factors fall under the big umbrella of business strategy. However, the main idea is to weigh the costs and benefits. Gary encourages startups to locate their firms near to partners, clients and customers. This enables startups to have easier accessibility to more opportunities and undiscovered markets, save on transport costs and expose themselves to a larger diverse pool of manpower. Startups should travel down personally, preferably with a local team to do an on-site inspection to before launching their new firm there. Be well-versed in local infrastructure and regulations Awareness of the local government regulations and incentives must be at your finger tips. This can really assist or sabotage the company. Government expenditure to boost trade is very generous in China, and there are many incentive schemes cater to new startup films. Examples include the taxation relief system and Wholly Foreign-Owned Enterprise (WFOE). Equity and Cooperative Joint Ventures are also strongly encouraged. Support from the government will mean lesser restrictions and more incentives, which can maximise profits margins for startups. Do your homework, get assistance from industry experts Government agencies such as IE Singapore, Spring Singapore, IDA and NUS Enterprise help startups to boost their overseas marketing presence, branding consultancy and reducing headhunting costs. More often than not, these agencies support the setting up and staffing of marketing offices overseas. They also subsidise third party consultancy costs for branding activities. Therefore, seeking help from these organisations be a great help in help you introduce your first office locally or in China. Link to Gary Gan’s Slides https://www.dropbox.com/s/4rdh9xce3mftrph/BizSpark%20Gary.pptx

BizSpark Night: China's Tech Landscape (Part 1)

Wed, 04 Dec 2013 09:00:17 +0000

Organised by Microsoft BizSpark, this year’s BizSpark Night was held on 28 November at Microsoft Singapore Level 21 Auditorium. Distinguished speakers like Bruce Wang, Gary Gan and James Tan were present to educate startups on introducing their presence into the world’s second largest market, China. China’s tech landscape: An overview Bruce Wang, a senior evangelist in Microsoft Singapore, was the Director for RenRen Inc. at Microsoft China for 6 years from 2005 to 2011. He outlined the difficulties of venturing into China such as cost, location, hiring and promoting of business. Having sufficient financial power and the ability to utilise them to the maximum potential allows startups to survive in the increasingly competitive Chinese landscape. Having abundant capital can allow for a good foundation and an advantageous headstart. Choosing the right location is crucial as it enables startups to source for their skilled laborers. This is especially so for tech companies which are knowledge-intensive industries. Beijing and Shanghai are favorable locations where skilled talents are in abundance. The 1,106 universities allow new firms to find their skilled manpower more easily in these areas. However, opportunity costs must also be measured as absolute costs are higher due to the poaching of scholars among companies. Due to higher costs of living in cities, employees also anticipate a higher salary compared to those in the inner cities like Chengdu and Wuhan. Successful examples of startups Bruce pointed to DouPing and PPTV in Shanghai, and Weibo and RenRen in Beijing, where Bruce happens to be from. Inner cities can also be considered based on the characteristics of the firm - for example, TaoBao, China’s cheapest and largest online marketplace, developed its headquarters in an inner city, Hangzhou, for the pool of cheaper labour. In China, social media censorship is very heavy due to government backing of local portals. Popular social media platforms such as Google, Facebook and YouTube are banned in China. They are substituted by local online portals such as Baidu, RenRen and Youku respectively. Hence, expanding one’s branding overseas can be taxing due to unfamiliarity with these platforms. However, startups can do mobile advertising in China through approaching channels such as AppFlood, Baidu, and Qihoo. Networking and yearly events Annually, tech conferences such as Global Market Internet Conference (GMIC), China Joy and TechEd China bring in prominent speakers from Chinese companies to discuss issues ranging from market entry, mobile trends and internet technologies. International startups will also get to showcase their products to investors and raise funds. Lastly, Bruce also mentioned Microsoft Ventures in China, a startup initiative aligned with the BizSpark programme that can help startups to acquire free tools, cloud computing resources and global routes to market with mentorships and seed opportunities. Startups entrepreneurs that are interested in the programme can email bruce.wang@microsoft.com for more details. Link to Bruce’s PowerPoint slides: http://sdrv.ms/1etWKCX [youtube width=“425” height=“344”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ2qOqXauuw [/youtube]

Developer Feature: Ben Goh

Tue, 03 Dec 2013 04:00:51 +0000

In this Developer Feature series, Spiffy talks to up-and-coming developers to learn what makes them tick. For December, we have 35-year-old Ben Goh, a software engineer at Autodesk. He created Asher’s Maze for his son’s birthday, a game released exclusively on the Windows 8 and Windows Phone Store that took a year to develop.

Describe yourself in three words.

Approachable, funny, nonsensical.

What motivated you to start building Asher’s Maze?

I tried to build many things before: MP3 player, isometric web game, UI skin engine, 3D turn-based game… but none of those got completed. I realized that they didn’t get done because of a very simple reason – I was building them for myself, but I got attracted to different technologies all the time. Obviously having a moving target did not go too well with delivering something. Until a year ago, I found the “right reason” for me to do the next project – my son Asher.

Nokia Lumia 525 in Singapore

Mon, 02 Dec 2013 03:00:26 +0000

Nokia Lumia 525 combines style and entertainment with an accessible smartphone price

Stylish Lumia smartphone delivers a rich selection of high end innovations on Windows Phone 8

SINGAPORE – Nokia today introduced the new accessibly-priced Nokia Lumia 525, a variant of the successful Lumia 520, delivering a rich selection of high end innovations and experiences taken from premium Lumia smartphones. Powered by the latest Nokia Lumia Black version of Windows Phone 8 operating system, this fun and colourful smartphone offers many of the same Nokia imaging experiences as its high-end siblings, as well as maps and navigation from HERE, and free music streaming from Nokia MixRadio. A four inch super sensitive touchscreen and 1GB RAM completes the highly immersive smartphone entertainment experience. “The Lumia 520 has been a great success story for our Windows Phone 8 portfolio since its launch earlier this year. The Nokia Lumia 525 will expand our reach, bringing high end Lumia experiences to many more consumers at an affordable price.” said Vlasta Berka, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Nokia Pan Asia. “With the ability to run the latest apps like Instagram, Vine, and Halo: Spartan Assault, this beautifully designed smarphone is a clear signal that Nokia delivers a better smartphone experience at every price point.” Like any great smartphone, the Lumia 525 includes an outstanding imaging experience, including a fivemegapixel autofocus camera and an advanced imaging applications like Nokia Camera. Nokia Camera features provide imaging controls that make it easy to shoot like a pro, whilst Smart mode lets people create the perfect group picture, even remove unwanted guests from the shot. Cinemagraph brings still images to life, which can then be shared with friends on Facebook, Twitter or via email. The Nokia Lumia 525 also offers the latest version of Nokia MixRadio, providing free, unlimited streaming of music without the need for registration, sign in or listening to ads. The easy to use service lets people build mixes based on favourite artists and download up to four mixes for listening offline, as also offering the new Play Me button that delivers users their own personal radio station with just one click. The Nokia Lumia 525 includes the free suite of HERE applications, including HERE Maps, HERE Drive and HERE Transit which means never getting lost, whilst also saving on data costs. With Windows Phone 8, the Nokia Lumia 525 also provides a more personal smartphone experience allowing people to pin playlists, HERE routes, Web-pages and documents direct to the Start Screen as Live Tiles makes it easier to access favourite content, while People Hub brings all social media notifications and messages into one convenient location. Also included are Xbox gaming, as well as Microsoft Office with Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint available out of the box for free, Windows Phone 8 makes the Nokia Lumia 525 a powerful productivity tool. The Nokia Lumia 525 also allows to store a wealth of content both created and collected with 7GB of free online SkyDrive storage, 8GB mass memory and expandable 64GB memory slot. Available in gloss orange, white, yellow and matte black and with changeable shells, Nokia Lumia 525 will be available in Singapore from 14 December at the suggested retail price of SGD249 at Nokia Stores and Nokia Solution Partners.

The Nokia Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320 arrive in Singapore

Fri, 29 Nov 2013 03:00:27 +0000

Time to go BIG with Lumia! The Nokia Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320 arrive in Singapore

The first 6” Lumia smartphones featuring the latest imaging innovations from Nokia enhance productivity with built-in Microsoft Office for easy sharing and editing

Pre-orders

Starting from 27 November 2013, Nokia will begin accepting preorders for the Nokia Lumia 1520.
Consumers can simply go to Nokia Stores and Nokia Solutions Partners to order their Nokia Lumia 1520.

SINGAPORE – Continuing to redefine smartphone innovation, Nokia introduced two large screen Lumia smartphones, the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320 in Singapore today. With a 6-inch screen and the latest software advancements for Windows Phone, the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 1320 are perfectly suited for entertainment and productivity. A new third column of tiles on the home screen means people can see and do more on a larger screen. Bringing larger displays to the award-winning Lumia design, the new format is coupled with some of the most advanced camera innovations so people can capture and share the world around them. “Mobile devices are at the center of consumers’ lives as they look to capture and share experiences on the go,” said Vlasta Berka, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Nokia Pan Asia. “Today we’re inviting people in Singapore to switch to Nokia. With the Nokia Lumia 1520 and 1320, our first 6-inch Lumia smartphones, we’re delivering industry-leading design and imaging innovation to bigger devices, with experiences that are unique to Lumia and Windows Phone.” The Lumia 1520 offers a 6-inch screen and a vivid 1080p full HD display for outstanding outdoor readability. The Lumia 1520 offers the latest imaging innovation from Nokia – a 20MP PureView camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) enabling sharp images even in the dark, as well as oversampling and zooming technology – similar to the Lumia 1020. Building on the experiences introduced with Lumia 1020 and now optimized for a larger screen, the Lumia 1520 comes with the new Nokia Camera. Nokia Camera integrates the most popular imaging modes – Pro, Smart and video – into one seamless picture-taking experience. As with the Lumia 1020, the images can tell several stories with the camera’s zooming, reframing and cropping capabilities, and dual capture of low and high resolution pictures. For outstanding video experiences, the Nokia Lumia 1520 camera captures full HD video with crystalclear audio. It also includes Nokia Rich Recording with four microphones, providing directional stereo recording capabilities to capture distortion-free audio from the preferred direction for accurate and clear sound. The Lumia 1320 features many high-end Lumia innovations on a large 6-inch 720p display and extends the Nokia Camera app to another price range. With a range of imaging apps available, the Lumia 1320 comes with Nokia MixRadio for free streaming of ad-free music and HERE maps and location services, so people can experience the most popular Lumia experiences at a more accessible price.

AppHack Singapore 2013

Thu, 28 Nov 2013 03:31:55 +0000

Microsoft Singapore recently hosted AppHack Singapore 2013 which attracted over 300 participants for the hackathon. I was fortunate to be able to interact with tons of great developers and entrepreneurs, and to learn about the latest technology developments and start-up ideas for mobile platforms. Event registration started at 9am and I was excited to see a great mix of experienced and junior developers gathered for the hackathon. After an ice-breaking round of conversations over breakfast, participants gathered for the opening address by Guscloud’s CEO, Vincent Ha. Event partners took turns to share their entrepreneurial experiences (such as the revival of inSing.com from the “Valley of Death”), the latest technologies (such as Pearson’s developer platform and Microsoft’s Open Technologies), and potential development ideas for the hackathon (such as audience engagement for the 28th SEA Games in 2015). The Microsoft booth managed to attract a lot of attention with the promotion of Microsoft Open Technologies and a special giveaway of limited edition t-shirts for tweeting about the event and Open Technologies. After the morning presentations, participants eagerly gathered in their teams and started working on their mobile applications. Numerous breakout sessions were held throughout the day to introduce various technologies and platforms to assist participants in the development of their mobile applications. Microsoft Singapore Technical Evangelist, Chun Siong, gave a special presentation on the ease of developing mobile applications using Windows Azure. Participants had access to a variety of toys to serve as fun distractions from the stress of designing and developing applications, such as Nerf guns, a Parrot AR Drone, and a claw machine that dispenses M&M’s. As night approaches, some participants got ready for the long coding journey ahead, while others took a well-deserved break. I had a great time at AppHack 2013 meeting old friends and making new ones. Hopefully, I will be able to participate in future AngelHack events in Singapore. What do you think of AppHack 2013? 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!

Nokia/Microsoft "Publish New Apps" and "Update Your App" Christmas Campaign

Tue, 26 Nov 2013 08:06:15 +0000

Edit: Added “Publish New Apps” section Hi Folks, Microsoft and Nokia is running a campaign from 26th November 2013 till 31st December 2013 to encourage developers to Update your apps or Publish New Apps. We have great prizes to be won. Here are the different category of “Update your apps”: 1. Competing Categories for “Update your apps”:

Operational

- Major overhaul of UX/UI, including improved operation of app, improvement in speed, implementation of user feedbacks and conversion to latest OS capability such as Live Tiles, Speech, NFC, Lock-Screen, Push Notification etc.

Instagram and Waze Released for Windows Phone

Mon, 25 Nov 2013 03:21:53 +0000

Photo-sharing service Instagram, which has more than 150 million users around the world, has landed in the Windows Phone Store cialis online and is now available for download! Instagram can transform everyday moments into shareable works of art. Just grab a picture from your Photos Hub, choose a filter to transform its look and feel, then post to Instagram (or share to Facebook, Twitter,Tumblr and Foursquare). As with many other Windows Phone apps, Instagram for Windows Phone will have a Live Tile which updates with data on the Start screen as well as support for fast-resume. Together with some of the best smartphone cameras on the market, Instagram will truly feel at home on Windows Phone. In addition to Instagram, Windows Phone today also sees another top app joining its ranks: the popular traffic and navigation app Waze. Waze isn’t your typical navigation app. Instead, Waze makes it possible to join forces with other drivers and crowd source real-time road conditions, saving time and petrol money. For example, you can both report accidents and hazards and see road problems on your route. Community-shared fuel prices make it easy to pinpoint the cheapest gas station. With Waze riding shotgun, it’s also fun and simple to meet up and coordinate with friends on the road. For more information, please read the blog post on the Windows Phone blog. cialis online

Celebrating 5 years of BizSpark in Singapore

Fri, 22 Nov 2013 05:38:15 +0000

When we announced a program for startups called BizSpark, the idea that “Microsoft cares about Startups” was new to the Startup Community. That was November of 2008. This month, BizSpark celebrates its 5th Anniversary. In five years, more than 85,000 startups have participated in the BizSpark program from 165 different countries around the world. 100,000+ developers have become BizSpark members and we’re partnered with over 1,500 organizations who, like us, are striving to help startups every day. It has always been our goal to help startups succeed and over the years, BizSpark startups have been involved in big success stories, like Yammer being acquired for $1B and just last week, BizSpark grad, Criteo, raising $250M from their IPO. But, just as meaningful, are the many stories we have highlighted in our Featured BizSpark Startup Series. Through these interviews, we get the chance to hear, first-hand, about the journey of these startups and how they are making their dreams come true. These founders also share valuable advice for other startups. We have recently created The BizSpark Show – interviews with startup founders and investors from around the world with a focus on BizSpark members who are building the next great companies from the ground up. We are inspired and fascinated by the ideas, tenacity and sheer will startups possess and we invite you to share your own BizSpark story with us: bizspark@microsoft.com. In Singapore, we have 800 startups that are currently on BizSpark or are BizSpark Alumni. To celebrate 5 years of BizSpark here as well, we decided to tell the story of two of our startups, TradeHero and MoveCorrectly. We hope you enjoy the videos as much as we have watching our startups grow together with us. BizSpark Plus startup TradeHero is ranked #1 Finance app in 75 countries and runs on top of Windows Azure. CTO Dominic Morris talks about his journey with Tradehero, Windows Azure and the future of Tradehero after raising $10M Series A For Its Stock Market Trading gamification app.

Developer Feature: Yan Zheng Hao (Part 2)

Wed, 20 Nov 2013 01:18:42 +0000

In this Developer Feature series, Spiffy talks to up-and-coming developers to learn what makes them tick. This is part 2 of our interview with 16-year-old Yan Zheng Hao, a first-year Game Design & Development student from ITE College Central (tertiary student) in Singapore. What is your app about and how did you come up with your idea? The first few apps published on the Windows Phone Store are admittedly quite gimmickly such as Metal Detector, & Nokia Lumia Ringtone as I’m still trying to get used to C# and Silverlight. Those 2 apps are perhaps my foundation to building better apps. A few months later with much support from the Nokia Developers community when Nokia embraced the Windows Phone platform. That is when my third app is released, with the hope of bringing xin MSN video (Localized version of MSN for Singapore market) to Windows Phone. As MSN video at that point of time only supports Flash and Silverlight, and neither one of them could be watched on Windows Phone. I used techniques such as HTML parsing to retrieve the data off the website since I do not have access to the APIs. http://www.windowsphone.com/en-sg/store/app/xin-videos/7c906b24-e928-47e0-a911-f682ed89f203 It was rather encouraging to see myself actually accomplishing it, something that I once thought it was impossible without the APIs. A Windows Phone exclusive app to watch xinmsn video, where Android and iOS couldn’t. – Something I can tell my friends, this thing is only on Windows Phone and do you have it on Android or iOS? Then came BUILD 2012 that got me excited. I knew Windows 8 it is going to be a huge ecosystem, and I really want to get into the market as soon as possible in terms of apps. That was when I started joining events hosted by Microsoft Singapore such as Hackathons, Talks, Workshops, & etc with much support from the team (Joyce Huang, Chun Siong, Yizhe Shen and many more) as the new WinRT APIs were really quite unfamiliar to me. Those events are rarely held by Apple and Google, Singapore is mostly neglected and I have never considered building apps for those platforms. The process & tools needed to building apps for the Windows platform is unmatched too! One of the app that was released a 3 weeks after Windows 8 was launched was MegaTube, which is a third party YouTube client for Windows 8. It is again something that I got the idea when I need to download a YouTube video for offline use, and many websites out there have enormously long delay (advertisements) before you get your video or requiring you to install software that cannot be run on the Windows RT platform such as Surface RT. I was rather reluctant to create a third party YouTube client at first, as this space was rather competitive with established players such asPrimeTube, YouTube+, MetroTube (Windows Phone), & YouTube Player. Starting out & focusing as a ‘downloader’ really gave me an entry to the market, gradually I improved the app to a full pledged YouTube experience. I was glad that I have made the right choice as it was well a success, with the app currently sitting on the top 100 free apps under the US store and over 1.4 million downloads to date. One key marketing strategy was AdDuplex that really propelled my app to the top since its release, with over 100 million impressions served and 200,000 users acquired all for free. Great deal, considering that there will be times where there is no ads available from Microsoft PubCenter. AdDuplex is a fall back to advertising. It proved that there is a market for Windows 8 even for individual developer like me that is not too saturated yet. What’s your process for designing the user journey? In terms of designing the user’s journey, I always start with my needs. As a Windows Phone & Windows 8 user, it is relatively easy to identify what the users are looking for. I typically ship just 1-2 weeks right after I got the idea of what I want to do next and it is gradually improved over time. App reviews are a crucial part to that improvements, often I spend more than 10 minutes each day reading it and iron out issues or the things that they demand. The other aspect of my process of designing the user’s journey is to be the user myself. I tend to constantly use the app that I make over and over again to look for flaws, and ways I can improve it even further. What’s next for you? I am always looking out for new opportunities, there are certainly emerging technologies and ecosystem that I’ll be willing to try out. For instance, the Xbox One that I’m looking forward to. With Windows NT kernel on board and probably some pressure from Apple TV, PS4 that Microsoft may one day open the platform for indi developers like me. Or perhaps the smart watch, glass, etc. At the moment, I’ll be writing more apps for Windows 8 and Windows Phone as and when there is a gap that needs to be filled. Such as#2InstaWithMassiveLove that I am currently developing. (A fully featured Instagram app for Windows Phone, as Facebook is reluctant to make one)

Inori Aizawa at Culture Japan Night 2013

Fri, 15 Nov 2013 03:25:22 +0000

Danny Choo was back in town for the recently concluded Anime Festival Asia (AFA) and Culture Japan Night 2013. Collateral Damage Studios (CDS) was invited to share their experience of creating Inori Aizawa for the launch of Internet Explorer (IE) 11 at AFA 2013. There was a huge turnout for the event as anime enthusiasts gathered to share their passion and love for anime. With the rising popularity of Inori Aizawa amongst anime and Microsoft fans, the CDS booth was bursting with activity as fans admired the beautiful artwork and purchased art books. Before the CDS presentation on the making of Inori Aizawa, Danny Choo went on stage to discuss about his journey in realizing his dream of making Mirai Suenaga dolls. I am especially touched when Danny shared his lessons learnt in making Mirai Suenaga dolls a reality. Despite disappointments and hurdles that we may encounter along the way, we need to stop waiting on our dreams and start acting on them. We should use our knowledge and networks to build the best products that we can make. After an exciting presentation by Danny, it was time for CDS to present on the making of Inori Aizawa for Internet Explorer (IE) 11 at AFA 2013. The idea for Inori Aizawa was actually seeded at Culture Japan Night 2012 as CDS representatives interacted with Microsoft staff over Surface tablets. When Danny presented the different personification of the various internet browsers, CDS artists noticed the glaring absence of Internet Explorer in the lineup and decided to try their hands at creating one themselves. Inori was an instant hit and drew more than 20,000 likes and comments. Her immense popularity caught the attention of Microsoft Singapore, who decided to collaborate with CDS to feature Inori at AFA 2013 to coincide with the launch of Internet Explorer (IE) 11. Microsoft Singapore also collaborated with Nanyang Technological University’s CACANi Animation to develop a special promotional video introducing Inori. The video was a huge success as it gathered more than 2 million views within three days of its launch, and created strong demand for promotional videos and television series featuring Inori. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHTUlF7NA2o[/youtube] The presentation ended with a lively Q&A session where several fans won limited edition Inori Aizawa t-shirts by answering simple questions about Inori. With the huge success of Inori Aizawa at AFA 2013 and Culture Japan Night, I am sure that we will be seeing more of her in the future. In the mean time, you can find out more about Inori and access exclusive content at the following links:

Windows 8 App Starter Pack: Singapore Edition

Wed, 13 Nov 2013 03:02:34 +0000

If you’re looking for a list of Windows 8 apps you can’t live without, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled the top five apps that give you access to your favourite local and international content right on your Start Screen. In the vein of all things Singaporean, they also happen to be completely free. 1) Turn up the radio. Listen to 17 local stations such as Class 95, Kiss 92 or 987FM on your Windows 8 device with SG Radio. Streaming continues in background mode, allowing you to use other apps or your desktop. Other useful functions include lyric search, Live Tile display of the currently playing song, and a saved favourite stations function. Audio quality varies with station. 2) Endless hours of fun. Growing up, who can forget reading about the escapades of this famous lasagna-eating cat on Life!’s comic strip section? Garfield’s awesome adventures are now in a physics puzzle game Feed Garfield! Experiment with various tactics to feed your favourite hungry fat cat. A perfect casual game for long trips on the MRT, or a handy tool to keep the kids occupied. (Free trial version) 3) Travelling made easy. Singaporeans made more than 8 million overseas trips in 2012. Plan your next one by searching millions of routes on over 1,000 airlines and find the lowest priced flights in seconds with the free Skyscanner Windows 8 app. Save money, save time. 4) Bargains at your fingertips. Top online local shopping mall Qoo10 Singapore is the one-stop shop for your dose of retail therapy. The app provides a detailed overview of daily discounts & special offers. 5) Print and scan on the cloud. Own a Dell Laser printer? Dell Document Hub is a convenient cloud service that simplifies document collaboration. The app is compatible with Win 8, 8.1 and RT devices and allows users to scan to, share, and print from a variety of common cloud document platforms. Easy to use, this free app enables digital collaboration through the cloud and offers convenience print settings configuration and information on printer and toner status. Got any other favourite Windows 8 apps you can’t live without? Tell us in the comments below.

Introducing Internet Explorer's Inori Aizawa

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 03:41:21 +0000

Singapore’s premier anime convention, Anime Festival Asia (AFA), was back in town and anime fans were treated to Microsoft Singapore’s exclusive unveiling of a new anime heroine, Inori Aizawa. Inori Aizawa was created by local art enthusiast group Collateral Damage Studios (CDS) in March 2013, and drew more than 20,000 likes and comments. Her immense popularity caught the attention of Microsoft Singapore who decided to unveil Inori especially for AFA 2013 to coincide with the launch of Internet Explorer (IE) 11. Microsoft Singapore also collaborated with Nanyang Technological University’s CACANi Animation to develop a special promotional video introducing Inori. The video has been a resounding success with fans, gathering more than 2 million views within three days of its launch and fans requests for a 24 episode television series featuring Inori. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHTUlF7NA2o[/youtube] Day 2 of AFA, Saturday morning 9:30am and Microsoft Singapore’s experiential booth for Inori Aizawa was already buzzing with activity as everyone queued up eagerly to experience Internet Explorer (Inori Version) on Surface tablets. Lucky fans who visited the Microsoft booth early were rewarded with a limited edition Inori Aizawa Internet Explorer t-shirt. The Microsoft booth was full of attractive displays featuring Inori which were extremely popular with fans and shutterbugs. Creative fans had a lot of fun with Inori by striking interesting poses with the character. At 2pm, the booth was graced by the presence of Valerie from Asian Pop Collective (APC) who is the voice of Inori. Her photo session drew huge crowds of people and even attracted the attention of a cute Iron Man cosplayer. Inori Aizawa has been a huge success at AFA and I am sure that fans will be seeing more of her in future Microsoft promotional events. Stay tune to Spiffy for more news about Inori! In the mean time, you can find out more about Inori and access exclusive content at the following links:

Hackathon Perspectives

Fri, 08 Nov 2013 02:50:04 +0000

With AngelHack Singapore Fall edition drawing nearer, I decided to find out more about the history of the hackathon and the various perspectives of hackathons. Brief History of Hackathons [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZbtzTIuvqw[/youtube] Oxford dictionary defines a hackathon as “an event, typically lasting several days, in which a large number of people meet to engage in collaborative computer programming”. Personally, I prefer the definition given by UC Berkeley’s The Daily Californian: “Hackathon = programmers’ gathering (but more efficient)” “Hackathon = any other CS project (with potential awards)” “Hackathon = there’s food (usually)” “Hackathon = venture capitalists (they look for cool ideas)” “Hackathon = you can leave whenever (no one stops you)” [vimeo]http://vimeo.com/68314739[/vimeo] Jon Gottfried, Developer Evangelist at Twilio, gave a brief presentation at Open Tech NYC 2013 on the history of hackathon. The first hackathon was OpenBSD which occurred at Calgary from June 4 to 6, 1999. Interestingly, the term, “Hackathon”, was first used to refer to an event at the JavaOne Conference from June 15 to 19, 1999. According to Jon, the mother of the modern hackathon was created in 2005 with Super Happy Dev House that involved developers and technical expertise gathering to “build things, simply for the love of building”. It was a public community event that people could meet their friends, socialize, work on projects, and find collaborators. Since then, the hackathon has evolved into various formats that can be largely categorized into startup hackathons, open source hackathons, competitive community hackathons, brand hackathons, and non-technical hackathons. Are Hackathons Worth Your Attention? Critics feel that hackathons might not be focusing on the social good. Jake Porway, founder and executive director of DataKind, wrote a Harvard Business Review article titled “You Can’t Just Hack Your Way to Social Change” which acknowledged that hackathons “give the technology community great social opportunities and reward them with money and fame for their solutions, and companies get free access to a community of diligent experts they otherwise wouldn’t know how to reach.” However, they “are not ideal for solving big problems like reducing poverty, reforming politics, or improving education and, when they’re used to interpret data for social impact, they can be downright dangerous.” NewTechCity did an unofficial poll from 40 hackers and found that individuals primarily attend hackathons to make connections that can eventually lead to job opportunities and startup investments. More importantly, hackathons provide an opportunity for individuals to “solve a problem and to change the world”. It is a great platform to get media exposure on issues, such as Hack//Meat for sustainable agriculture and FWD.us hackathon spearheaded by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg for undocumented immigrants. Despite criticisms that “nothing ever happens to their ideas” generated at hackathons, these events are a great way for individuals to learn more about themselves and to socialize with other like-minded people to “keep their creative juices flowing”. It provides a great opportunity for potential entrepreneurs to learn to handle unexpected situations during a startup, such as technical failures and team conflicts, and to test their ideas and collect feedback from potential users, collaborators, and investors. Personally, I am excited about attending AngelHack Singapore to catch-up with old buddies and to make new friends while picking up great ideas on the latest trends in the industry. Interested in joining AngelHack Singapore? Sign up at https://apphack13singapore.eventbrite.com/ Keep track of the latest event news at AngelHack Singapore Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelHackSingapore Stay tune for our coverage of AngelHack Singapore Fall 2013 at the end of the month!

Windows Phone Challenge #3

Thu, 07 Nov 2013 05:12:41 +0000

Hi Folks, following our Windows Phone Challenge #1, and Windows Phone Challenge #2…. We are back! This time round, we are going for 5 x 1020s, 5 x 1520s and lots of Sudden Death challenges for 920s

Updated as of 26th Nov 2013, 3:17pm

Challenge Completed for Sudden Death (SGAG Client)
Challenge Completed for Sudden Death (TV Guide)
Challenge Completed for Sudden Death (Overseas Notification)
Added #5 Challenge for Sudden Death (Inori Aizawa Fan App)
Added #5 Challenge for Lumia 1520 (SG Buses Competitor App)
Added #4 Challenge for Sudden Death (Big sweep for Singapore)
Added #4 Challenge for Lumia 1020 (Optical Object Recognition App)
Added #3 Challenge for Sudden Death (sgag client for Windows Phone)
Added #4 Challenge for Lumia 1520 (iTown@SG App)

The rules will be very identical to previous rounds, and this time (from your votes) we will shorten the challenge period to 4 weeks :) The competition will start once this article is live, and the deadline will be set at 8th December 2013, 2359 hours! We will be limiting the wins per developer to 2 phones maximum this time round. (there will be no limit for Sudden death challenges) Do note that some of these ideas might be really hard to implement, but if you have a great idea, let us know and we’ll replace / place it in the challenge list below. Multiple developers can compete in the same idea. The best submission for each challenge will be awarded a Nokia Lumia. If you have questions or have an idea to suggest, drop us an email at win8sg@microsoft.com How do i join this challenge? 1. Join our community group on http://www.facebook.com/groups/apolloexplorer 2. Drop us an email at win8sg@microsoft.com and let us know which challenge(s) you are interested to work on. If you have a great idea, let us know and we will list it below. While you may work on multiple (or even all) ideas, we will be limiting the maximum prize an individual can get is limited to 2. 3. Publish an a live version to the Windows Phone store before 8th December 2013 . (For Sudden Death Challenges, just be the first publisher to fulfill the challenge criteria to win.) 4. Read the FAQ all the way below Nokia Lumia 1020 Challenges 1. A filter application which allows users to show filter effects in real time while taking picture and add the filter effect after taking a picture. This application should provide the user with 10 interesting filter effects (you are to come up with these effects), and you are encouraged to use the Nokia Imaging SDK for this. The application would provide users In-App-Purchase features to purchase additional interesting filters. You are free to come up with the revenue dynamics of this application, but the app should be 100% free to download from the store. The application should also save a 38MP picture into isolated storage if the detected phone is a Lumia 1020. Here’s a guide to help you with this .To maximize your potential of getting revenue from purchases of filters, you should add a gallery of user generated photos with the effects. You should also provide a “trial” to some of these paid filters, example use for 3 times. Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 2. A photography application which can trigger one or more other Windows Phone to take pictures. The intention of this application would be to great a bullet time effect. There is a sample of what HTC has done [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD26Mrf1mck&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]. The master phone should be able to connect or sync up with the slave(s) phones via NFC or other means you deem fit. Once synced, the master phone should be able to trigger the slave(s) phones in a continuous manner. The slave phones should send the pictures taken back to the master phone in chronological order in which the photos are taken. If possible, the delay time between 2 slave phones taking pictures should be less than 10ms. You can considering doing a burst mode of each of the slave phones, and selecting the ones which makes the chronological order. Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 3. A video diary clone application of the popular iOS and Android application, one second everyday. Here’s the original idea One Second Everyday ; but we would love to have you take it further. While the application strictly follows the calendar, this windows phone version of the application should also allow the user to use it during holiday and during events to take lots of 1 seconds snippets. Do note that you would have to save the videos into isolated storage (when you are travelling, there is no Internet) and then onto an online storage services. The online service would then trim these videos to exactly 1 second each and stitch them together. If you are confident, you can do the processing of trimming and stitching on the phone itself. Developer(s) working on this idea : 1 4. An optical object regconition app comparable to CamFind. You can find an API for this on mashape Check out their video below [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3VQkuu3uUM[/youtube] Developer(s) working on this idea : 1 5. Coming Soon Developer(s) working on this idea : 0 Nokia Lumia 1520 Challenges 1. An application to show the dengue hotspots in Singapore. You should make use of Here Maps for this application. This application show make use of Live Tiles to rotate information about the dengue hotspots in Singapore. The application should also users to voice query for hotspots in a region and response with speech. Example users will ask “appname, is bukit panjang a dengue hotspot?”, the application should reply “Yes or no” and show the map of the region. If possible, implement a push notification update which will show the users what are the newest reported dengue hotspots. Here’s a website you can start off with Dengue Developer(s) working on this idea : 1 2. An application to check the timing of SMRT Trains at different stations and provide news of Breakdown. This application should allow user to pin their favorite station(s) as a live tile(s), and this live tile should show the arriving timing of the next train. User may pin more than 1 station live tiles. There should also be a “status watch " live tile which would show the general status of the trains running. If there is any delay or breakdown, this live tile should show the information in text. Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 3. An application which is similar or comparable to myENV application from NEA Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 4. An application which is similar or comparable to iTown@SG from Town Council Developer(s) working on this idea : 1 5. A competitive application similar or comparable to SBS Iris NextBus. The application should allow users launch the application via Speech to query by Buses Number / Bus Stop Number. Example “app name, timing for bus 190” or “app name, bus timing at bus stop 12345”. The application will then launch and ask you for more information (if necessary) before displaying the wait time. The application should also allow you to pin a secondary live tile with the wait time for a specific bus at a specific bus stop. Pressing this live tile will launch the application to give you more information on the bus and its bus route. Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 Nokia Lumia 920 Sudden Death Challenges 1. An application to help create SMS for overseas notification. You have to follow the list of countries available from www.ns.sg for overseas notification. This application should allow the user to use speech to launch the application from the start screen. Example “appname overseas notification to australia from 1st October 2013 to 10th October 2013” will help you to create the SMS template to 36767. “MNC NRIC Country of Visit Departure Date (DD/MM/YYYY) Return Date Contact Number” This application should prompt you for your NRIC and Contact Number on first launch and store it into the isolated storage. Developer(s) working on this idea : 3 (completed) 2. An application to show the programme schedule for MioTV and Starhub Cable TV Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 (completed) 3. An client application for reading sgag post, Singapore’s version of 9gag. Developer(s) working on this idea : 3(completed) 4. An client application similar to 4DTOTO@SG, but showing big sweep results for Singapore Speech is optional for this as Big Sweep numbers are really long. :) Developer(s) working on this idea : 1 (completed) 5. A fan application for Internet Explorer Mascot Inori Aizawa. You are free to use this as a template, please use this Theme Pack link for the “soundboard” section. Do change the background, fonts, wallpapers and videos to suit the theme of IE or Inori Aizawa. Also include the video from Anime Festival Asia Special Video and add the video theme song as a Windows Phone Ringtone. If you need pictures for wallpaper, refer to this skydrive account to select relevant ones. Do ensure that the sounds from the soundboards are savable as SMS and other alert tones on the Windows Phone Here are some additional resources you might find useful for this challenge Piano Theme Song Collateral Damage Studios Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 Frequently asked question FAQ Q. Who is eligible for this challenge? A. If you have a windows phone developer account which is tied to a Singapore live id, you are eligible for this competition. Do note that if you are residing outside of Singapore and wish to compete this online, we will not ship the prizes overseas. Do contact us at win8sg@microsoft.com and let us know in advance if you wish to participate remotely. Q. If I’m competing for all ideas, is it possible for me to win in all the challenges? A. We will restrict the maximum number of prizes to 2 for each developer account. (there is no limit on Sudden death challenges) Q. So what’s the maximum number of phones can I win? A. 2 phones for each developer, and unlimited Sudden death challenge prizes Q. Can I work with a team, or is this an individual challenge? A. Yes you may work in a team. Q. If I have a team of 10, do we get 10 phones if we produced the best application for one idea? A. No. 1 phone for each challenge. Q. Are existing applications upgraded counted for this challenge? A. Nope. You application has to be a net new application published after 7th November 2013. Q. I’m interested in this challenge, but I do not have a developer account. What can I do? A. After you are done with your 1st working version, drop us an email at win8sg@microsoft.com. We will provide you with a complementary token for the developer account registration. Q. Can I exchange Lumia 1020/1520 for other phones? A. No, but I can help you ask if some other winning developers is/are willing to barter trade. Q. How are you going to judge the entries? A. We will compare the entries for each challenges. The best entry, which fulfills the minimum criteria above will be award the phone. On a case-by-case basis, if necessary, we would need you to improve on user experience and design before award on the phone. Q. Is design and UX important? A. Yes, please do put in effort on designing and planning for good user experience. Q. How do I know if my application (with speech capabilities) is supported for English (united kingdom) and English (united states)? A. After setting your “speech language” in “settings” -> “Speech” to “English (united kingdom)”, press and hold your windows phone’s “windows button”, click on the “?” button on the top right hand side, and look at the “apps” tab. Your application should be visible when “speech” is set either “English (United Kingdom)” and “English (United States)”. Q. Is there a restriction on Free/Paid app? A. At minimum, please make it free so that it can be judged.

Basic Economics of Businesses: 2 Basic Frameworks Every Entrepreneur Should Keep Revisiting

Wed, 06 Nov 2013 04:28:42 +0000

Often, entrepreneurs get too caught up with managing operations, or are too enamored by their soon-to-be launched product, that they sometimes forget to think about the basic economics of their business. Here are the two useful frameworks for business owners which are, in fact, very basic material and almost ‘doh-worthy, but I thought it was worth putting it out there anyway: Used for analysing changes in profitability A simple income statement is a very useful framework. By analysing profitability through its component factors such as revenues, COGS, operating expenses, you can quickly direct your analysis. For example, if profits are declining because of a fall in revenues, focus on marketing issues. If profits are declining because of rising expenses, you may want to look into operations and financing issues. Three ways a company can increase profits: Increase Unit Price

Estatebuzz: Promoting Kampong Spirit

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 05:04:22 +0000

During the Singapore National Conversation dialogue, many participants expressed a need for a stronger kampong spirit. This inspired local tech company Estatebuzz Pte Ltd to optimise resource sharing online, encouraging Singaporeans to better connect with their neighbours living close together for mutual benefits. Estatebuzz is the parent company of Sharetransport.sg, blockpooling.sg and microfranchise.sg, all of which enable users to collaborate with one another digitally to solve particular challenges through social media. In order to make this work, Estatebuzz does the following: 1. Micro-franchising - Freelancers can join various franchises for training, administrative support and other benefits, making a potentially higher income than if they were freelancing independently. This helps people earn a decent monthly income, yet have a flexible work timetable with a shorter commute. Such examples include giving tuition to neighborhood children and delivering makeup packages to people’s doorsteps. 2. Block-pooling – Using a ‘helping hands’ approach, people living in the same block can leverage their own resources to help one another. This is a win-win situation for both sides. For example, neighbours do not have to spend additional money for a rice cooker if another neighbour has a spare one, and extra cash can be saved by purchasing items such as oil and rice in bulk. 3. Share transport – With the public transport crunch and sky-rocketing certificate of entitlement (COE) prices, commuters are driven to consider car-pooling as a more viable way to get around Singapore. Users are now able to discover others who live and work near them and are able to either car-pool, taxi-pool or bus-pool to get to work. Drivers are able to receive up to $4.60 per person per trip. As of now, Estatebuzz is being funded by the founders, with external funding help from National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). The founders of Estatebuzz hope that more people will register for the website, as this will solve community bonding and cooperation challenges among neighbours. It is sad that Singaporean modern society is not like the kampong days, when social capital and community links were much stronger. One could theoretically have been living in the estate for more than 20 years, and not know anything about the people living just a few metres away from them! This is the result of people either having the fear of being labelled as a “busybody” if they probed into another neighbour’s affairs, or being too shy to seek for help. It is heartwarming to see Estatebuzz’s willingness and eagerness to help the community by encouraging neighbours to interact more. Chatting with Mr Soh Chong Kian, a formal civil servant and now co-founder of Estatebuzz, was a great pleasure. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Pecha Kucha Night Singapore, Vol #9

Fri, 01 Nov 2013 08:41:33 +0000

Pecha Kucha, the Japanese term for the sound of conversation (“chit chat”), was recently held in Singapore. It created a space where people spanning multiple disciplines and fields of study shared their ideas and passions with others. This 9th installment of Pecha Kucha night was held at Home Club, Clarke Quay. The event is fundamentally quite unique, as it covers topics across a diverse range of industries. Pecha Kucha also has a quirky restriction: The speakers are only allowed to present 20 slides, each one on display for 20 seconds each. This style of presentation is known as the 20x20 format, which is aimed to keep individual presentations short, concise and interesting. The restriction also helps open up the stage for more speaker slots. Various people from all walks of life spoke, including Vanessa Kenchington of Plain Vanilla Bakery, Fakkah Fuzz, a stand-up comedian, and Alvin Ho of Atelier Hoko. Former lawyer Vanessa Kenchington left her job as a law firm associate to grow her bakery business without any formal culinary training. She had to learn how to frost and bake cupcakes from scratch, and reach a minimum quota of 100 cupcakes a day. As an entrepreneur, “Practice makes perfect” was a very important value to her, as she saw it as a sign of dedication to making any small business succeed. Vanessa also mentioned that her experiences, loved ones and family were the source of her strength that validated her business plan. Alvin Ho, co-founder of independent research platform HOKO, shared his research on void deck cat behaviour. This research includes investigations towards material and immaterial conditions that make up experiences in everyday life. He used to see some stray cats setting up their ‘home’ near his apartment and he began to question himself, “Why do these cats choose to live around the area? Is there any hidden potential embedded in my environment that the majority has failed to notice?” He then started his field study on 4 cats, in search for their ‘immaterial house’ embedded in the midst of our everyday environment. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ2BnXdvjpg[/youtube] We also had Jonathan Wong, who represented Microsoft as the product manager for Internet Explorer. He talked about his life and how as a product manager, he markets IE to consumers - not an easy task, given that people’s perspectives of the new browser interface are heavily influenced by old stereotypes and impressions of IE. Pecha Kucha Night ended with the last speaker, Sam Chablani, who shared his journey training under Michelin-starred chefs at the Culinary Institute of America. He gave interesting insight into the world of professional kitchens, explaining how the modern-day chef had to master various aspects of not just cooking, but business, marketing and entrepreneurship as well. You should attend the next Pecha Kucha Night Vol #10, which is happening soon. For more information, visit: http://www.pechakucha.org/

The Giant takes over Trafalgar Square for a day

Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:45:32 +0000

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

Windows Azure Backup Service is now available

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 09:25:02 +0000

Windows Azure Backup Service is now available! This means it is now live in production, backed by an enterprise SLA, supported by Microsoft Support, and is ready to use for production scenarios. What is Windows Azure Backup? Windows Azure Backup is a cloud based backup solution for Windows Server which allows files and folders to be backed up and recovered from the cloud, and provides off-site protection against data loss. The service provides IT administrators and developers with the option to back up and protect critical data in an easily recoverable way from any location with no upfront hardware cost. How does Windows Azure Backup Work? Windows Azure Backup is built on the Windows Azure platform and uses Windows Azure blob storage for storing customer data. Windows Server uses the downloadable Windows Azure Backup Agent to transfer file and folder data securely and efficiently to the Windows Azure Backup Service. Along with providing cloud backup for Windows Server, Windows Azure Backup Service also provides capability to backup data from System Center Data Protection Manager and Windows Server Essentials, to the cloud. All data is encrypted onsite before it is sent to the cloud, and customers retain and manage the encryption key. How to do it? Click New->Data Services->Recovery Services->Backup Vault to do this: Learn more on how to do it from:

Greater flexibility and agility with Windows Server 2012 R2

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 09:16:32 +0000

At the heart of the Microsoft Cloud OS vision, Windows Server 2012 R2 brings Microsoft’s experience delivering global-scale cloud services into your infrastructure with new features and enhancements in virtualization, management, storage, networking, virtual desktop infrastructure, access and information protection, the web and application platform, and more. Here’s are some resources to help you get started with Windows Server 2012 R2; > Start your evaluation > Start your Microsoft Academy Courses > What’s New in Windows Server 2012 R2 > Read the Windows Server 2012 R2 Datasheet > Read the Windows Server 2012 R2 White Paper

Developer Feature: Yan Zheng Hao (Part 1)

Fri, 25 Oct 2013 02:00:39 +0000

In this Developer Feature series, Spiffy talks to up-and-coming developers to learn what makes them tick. We talk with with 16-year-old Yan Zheng Hao, a first-year Game Design & Development student from ITE College Central (tertiary student) in Singapore. What is your background and how did you get here? My background in programming started with mainly on the assembly side. Admittedly I was quite a heavy gamer back then when I was 12 years old, its this fascination for the things you can’t do normally (‘hacking’) for the game that I’m playing which is MapleStory. Rather than how most people started in programming with a Hello World app, I got to learn techniques like memory editing with CheatEngine (http://cheatengine.org) to change the game’s instruction according to what I want. (Schools in Singapore don’t teach programming until the age of 16 as a tertiary student) This soon became my foundation for programming when the first MapleStory game emulator, ‘odinms’ was released and open sourced back on 2008. I immediately downloaded it and start playing around with the source file written in Java 6 and Javascript. Again, this fascination and even addiction to the game that got me into learning Java and JS in order to customize it to my needs. It took around 1-2 years of copy and pasting, or rather the term ’leeching’ before making a breakthrough as I get to learn more things over time gradually. Every single emulator that’s publicity released was made for the global version of the game, and as a player for ‘MapleSEA’. I wanted to make one that’s based on the local edition, and that just took a month to successfully update the files for it. I soon got quite a lot of attention from other developers in this field and a public server was even opened at one point in time with a partner that lasted for 2.5 years. We have gotten over 1200 concurrent players at some point in time at peak. I learned even more during this process as I was really the only developer to handle everything on the game play. Me and my partner is reluctant to trust anyone out there after the source code was leaked once. For instance, the switch to Linux CentOS to save cost on hosting fees instead the usual Windows Server 2003/2008, security issues (dealing with constant DDOS/DOS attack), server side programming, emulating techniques to keep the game up to date with the official ones, database management & etc. However it have to be shut down due to some issues in June 2012 that I am unable to disclose. I am just an average scorer during my secondary school life, but the internet changed my life completely. In Singapore where the mentality of our society are towards education exclusively for a good future, why can’t anyone strike it on their own? What motivated you to start building apps? The shutting down of the server also means losing a source of my only revenue stream. That is when I made the switch my focus to mobile apps instead. Being already a rather passionate Windows Phone user with a HTC Trophy 7 and with Silverlight/.NET language available for development(means I am able to use my current Java knowledge and apply it, given that both languages were quite similar). I have chosen Windows Phone 7 as the platform. On top of that, as an early adopter of Windows Phone (Bought right after its launch in Singapore) there were a lot of missing gaps in terms of application required by me everyday. It can also be annoying at times when there is a lot of peer pressure from my friends, when at that point of time the trend is towards iPhone 3GS and I’m considered to have a ’low end’ or rather inferior phone without apps. I wanted to change that, and build it for myself as a start.

3 Tips Every Startup Founder Should Know

Thu, 24 Oct 2013 04:12:38 +0000

I’ve been in several board meetings as an observer on some of our portfolio companies (Disclaimer: I work with a VC fund), and thus have had the privilege of observing dynamics from both sides of the table - VC and entrepreneur. A few unifying themes that any entrepreneur in Singapore should know: 1. The VC-entrepreneur relationship is key This stems from both parties having the trust in each other to add value to the relationship, based on a mix of data points (ability to execute, domain knowledge, and above all, genuineness). Note: Different parties can do whatever it takes to get the investment agreement signed. Things can be all rosy and positive pre-deal, and quickly turn ugly post-deal. So for entrepreneurs, as much as the VC is assessing you, do make your own assessments and see who are the best partners for your business. 2. Team > Ideas Ideas will always change, it is inevitable. Given that, you will need a team that: 1) has the flexibility to recognise opportunity and change the business plan accordingly and 2) has the right skills and resources to take the business plan forward. This is typically what VCs want to see, especially for early stage companies. 3. Zero Cash Date Critical point for every entrepreneur to have front-of-mind, all the time. Track on a monthly basis, and let it be known to the key stakeholders (this includes founding team and employees). Communication of this keeps everyone aligned, and its better to track it early than later, especially at the early-stages of a company. VCs would definitely appreciate if entrepreneurs always keep this in mind, because this forms the foundation of how the entrepreneur allocates resources within the company. cialis 20mg

IX World Tour: Israel to Singapore 2013

Wed, 23 Oct 2013 04:00:01 +0000

Some may wonder where some of the world’s startups begin. Perhaps not as well known as Silicon Valley, Israel is home to one of the world’s best enterprises with an astonishing figure of 4,800 active startups as of June 2013. Israel is said to be the next in line as it rewrites the future of cyber security. Today, for the very first time in Singapore, a rare opportunity has arisen for startups to reach the Far East market and establish themselves in this exciting ecosystem. However, only 10 Israeli Startups has been selected to pitch their idea to Singapore’s top investor community. Microsoft Singapore is proud to be the venue sponsor for this event where the BizSpark Team had the opportunity to network with the Israeli startups and listen to their pitches. Below are some promising Israeli tech startups that took part in the IX World Tour 2013: 1. NOK NOK #1 App on Israel app store Just when you thought that the telecom services could not get any better, Noknok mobile application was launched. This application allows users to receive free incoming calls on their original local number from all mobiles and landlines. Noknok combines technology such as SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to transform the way people reach out to one another. The reason for its position in the app store is of the fact that they eliminate expensive roaming charges for the users. https://www.noknok.com 2. Folloyu, featured by Global Entrepreneurship Week 2012 Maintaining online activities has just been made easier with Folloyu. Folloyu aims to empower web visitors where all uncompleted purchases and web activities can be continued, cross-device with a single click of a button. This application makes use of cloud technology in order to synchronize a URL across devices, allowing the user to seamlessly transition their online activities with any interruptions. www.folloyu.com 3. Fashioholic raised $1 million in seed funding Fashioholic is a leader in Serious Games, designed to provide added value other than mere entertainment. The games are also meant as a marketing channel for fashion brands, helping designers to collect user’s preference data to deliver targeted merchandise. Their application, Fashion Eye, has shown outstanding engagement retention statistics with over half a million items displayed to consumers. http://www.fashioholic.com/ We were given the honor of working with Esther Loewy (founding partner of Boot vamp venture, pictured below) to prepare the night for the Israeli Startups. Fine wine, tidbits and snacks were brought to be shared among the startups and investors that day. It was a night filled with lots of invaluable knowledge, which helped broaden my horizons greatly. With that, I truly hope that Singapore would have more of such events which could also be open to the general public. It would definitely be an eye-opener for all and Singapore’s entrepreneurs could take a leaf out of these great entrepreneurs’ books. I also hope to see more of our aspiring local startups in future.

Windows 8.1 - New Start Screen Features

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 13:55:30 +0000

Windows 8.1 has just been released with many new features to explore. In this article, I am going to discuss more about the New Start Screen. There has been many expectations among business people with the release of Windows 8, with some wondering why their Start button is missing. Now with Windows 8.1, the Start button is back! So what are some other key differences? Let’s see what’s new - the new Start screen has the features below:

Free ebook: Introducing Windows 8.1 for IT Professionals

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 03:26:42 +0000

Windows 8.1 is ready for widespread adoption. This book focuses on things that are new, with a special emphasis on topics of interest to IT pros. Instead of tips and tricks on 8.1, You will find more about management, deployment, and security, which is at the heart of every IT Pro. Download the eBook Here This is just an introduction, an overview. For more detailed information about the features and capabilities described in this book, I encourage you to become a regular visitor at the Springboard Series on TechNet: http://www.microsoft.com/springboard

Nokia Lumia 1020: Accessories

Thu, 17 Oct 2013 04:25:32 +0000

Many I know love to accessorize their phones with all sorts of things, like covers, stickers, even audio jack plugs. The Nokia Lumia 1020 may not be popular enough in Singapore for you to walk around say, Sim Lim Square and see a multitude of shops selling accessories for it, but it does have a wide assortment of accessories available that you can choose from. Let’s look at the official ones from Nokia first. If you got the Lumia 1020 hopefully you have the Camera Grip accessory as well, since they’re bundled together (black only, while stocks last, and apparently some places are out of stock already!). The Camera Grip accessory is an excellent companion for the Lumia 1020, especially for photographers or camera enthusiasts and chances are, if you bought the Lumia 1020 you fit in these categories. The grip makes it look more like a camera than a smartphone, with the familiar hold of a camera will be welcome to many trying to take a shot. It enables users to take a steady shot while holding the grip single-handedly as you would a digital still camera. The Camera Grip accessory includes a standard tripod socket for mounting on a tripod, and should fit into any standard tripod. Some Nokia Stores and Telcos appear to be giving a mini-tripod as a free gift when one buys the Lumia 1020 from them. That’s not all the Camera Grip does. It acts as a battery pack for your phone as well! When the Lumia 1020 is fitted in the grip, your phone is charged while you go about shooting. The battery capacity of the grip is 1020mAh, and can charge half that of the Lumia 1020 which has 2000mAh. You can also leave the phone in the grip while you charge the grip. What I found though, is that computers won’t recognize the phone while plugged into the camera grip. Also, the lights on the grip stay on while charging and can be considerably glaring in the dark. As an interesting note, the Camera Grip can be used to charge smaller phones like the Nokia Lumia 720 too! It weighs 72.8g, bringing the Lumia 1020 to 230.8g when equipped. If you didn’t get one bundled with the phone, you can get it at S$98 in white, black, or yellow. The Camera Grip also comes with a lanyard that can be attached to the Lumia 1020. There’s a small slit on the Camera Grip where the lanyard can go through, so no obstruction is caused. Like the Nokia Lumia 925 (and a few other Lumias), there’s a Wireless Charging Cover available for the Lumia 1020 that doesn’t come with in-built Wireless Charging like the Lumia 920. I find that the Lumia 1020?s cover is far easier to put on and take off as compared to the Lumia 925?s. It can easily be put on by pressing it into the cover and can be removed with little force. Even so, it feels secure and shouldn’t come off unexpectedly. I initially bought the Wireless Charging Cover as a means of making the back completely flat, just as I’ve done with the Lumia 925. However, I found that even with the Wireless Charging Cover, the back of the Lumia 1020 is not flat and is still slightly raised. I guess the enormous bulge of 1020 just can’t be contained! With my mission of having a flat back failed, I do find that it’s easier to hold the phone without the cover, since the cover does add an extra layer to hold, though not everyone feels the same. I also feel that the Lumia 1020?s cover may not offer as much protection as the Lumia 925?s, with the lack of protection around the top and bottom edges. The Wireless Charging Cover weighs 22g, which, added to the Lumia 1020 at 158g brings the total weight to 180g. This is still 5g lighter than the Lumia 920 at 185g. The cover is available at S$39 in white, black, and yellow. With the Wireless Charging Cover, users can use any Qi-Wireless Charging Standard devices to charge the Lumia 1020. Nokia has a Wireless Charging Plate (DT-900) available in Black, Cyan, Red, Yellow, and White, at S$88. A Wireless Charging Stand (DT-910) is also available that also contains an accessory app activated via NFC. It’s available in Black and White, at S$128. Nokia has partnered with JBL to come up with the JBL PowerUp Wireless Charging Speaker (MD-100W). It’s got amazing bass performance and comes with 3.5” audio jack, NFC, and Bluetooth support. Play music via Bluetooth from your phone with a tap, and charge it at the same time! You can get it for S$468 in Black, Cyan, and White. All above Nokia products are available from the Nokia Stores and Solution Partners around the country. Also, see other accessories not mentioned here on this page. Another kind of cover worth mentioning is the Carbon Fiber Armor from Bodyguardz, that must be bought from their online store. I have one for my Lumia 900 and it looks and feels great, so if you’re into that get one especially with its considerably cheap price tag. See it here. If you’re looking for other kids of accessories, like screen protectors, and a range of accessories for the Lumia 1020 to choose from, do check out Adix82, a local shop near Sim Lim Square. He has many covers and cases for the Lumia 1020 as well, if the official ones aren’t doing it for you head down and have a gander. That’s all folks! Thanks for reading, this is the end of my review on the Lumia 1020. I’ve got two more segments coming up that are more informative than review, so stay tuned for that!

Ahoy! Hoisting the sails with Pirate3D

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 04:00:19 +0000

We have not featured a pre-launch product from a Singapore startup that has garnered this much press attention. This group of childhood friends - Roger Chang, Brendan Goh and Tsang You Jun refer to themselves as “Captains” and “Pirates” in their company, appropriated called Pirate3D. You may have read our previous post on Prototype Asia and understood that 3D printers create an object with digital designing and print in three dimensions with a special type of plastic-like acrylic. But did you know that 3D printers will soon be available everywhere for everyone? Chief Executive Pirate, Cap’n Roger, says “in (the) future, people will look back and wonder in amazement how we could survive without 3D printers.” The startup has received US$482,000 in funding through Red Dot Ventures and has raised a further US $1,438,000 through its Kickstarter campaign. Set to officially have the printers available in 2014, there’s been plenty of buzz over the product due to its sleek design and user-friendly set up. Our team had the opportunity to tour Pirate3D’s cosy work place and are proud to be the first few to see the prototype before its official launch in 2014! The developers and the entrepreneurs are discussing the various ways to cut production costs, and they seem really engrossed in their discussion. Despite their busy schedule, they showed us around and brought us to the second level of the office where we saw their prototype of a 3D printer. The figurine model that was made from the 3D printer is a good replica of the actual model of the human hand. How Pirate3D printer works The flagship printer is designed for easy installation and setup which supports cloud printing. It allows you to print and customise your design over the web from anywhere, i.e. phone to the printer. The biggest plus point of the product is the printer’s ability to be mobile enabled (supports Wi-fi) and it does not require cable hookups. Pirate3D also designed a virtual store called Treasure Island, for users to print various type of customised models supported by drag-and-drop, web-based graphic user interface for easy use. In addition to the startup visit, questions were raised to the crew on their decision to create a startup and their future plans for their company. Why did you guys decide to startup Pirate 3D? It started when Brendan Goh and Tsang You Jun, two of its founders, took part in a business competition. They were given a project to make a prototype that is able to change its colour depending on the temperature of its contents. However, they faced problem in prototyping. Prototyping is expensive and requires a considerable length of time for production. They found themselves to be really frustrated at the waiting process and pulled in Roger Chang to help assemble the kit themselves. Roger’s professor, Professor Neo Kok Beng, was also brought in and suggested that they should build their own 3D printers. The team chanced upon this idea and turned it into a business opportunity. They unanimously agreed on calling themselves “Pirate3D” in five minutes. So, what are the future plans for Pirate3D? The crew commented that currently, they are looking on to expand their sales and continue their research and development (R&D) for future product lines. They also received numerous calls from design schools such as Nanyang Fine Academy of Arts (NAFA) and Laselle to pre-order the printers for the school students’ coursework project. They also noted that “We don’t want to be just a 3D printer company; we want to be the ones that history books remember as who we truly brought the technology into homes of everyday” - we salute the crew for such a great ambitious aim! We are pretty sure that in just a couple of years, 3D printing is going to be a smash hit. With the rising popularity of demand in the 3D printing market, we hope to see the birth of more 3D printing startups like Pirate3D and Prototype Asia in the near future. For more details, visit: www.pirate3D.com

3 reasons to blog for Spiffy.sg

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 16:00:26 +0000

Everyone has a point of view - from the recent flooding in Singapore to the latest scandals on social media - people are eager to share their perspectives. It establishes them as subject matter experts, expands their professional reach and gives them an opportunity to build a personal brand online.

But I don’t have the time, you say. I don’t know what to write about. Never fear, we’ve put together some tips and reasons for you to join our growing team of crazy-smart spiffy contributors. From Rwanda to Tokyo, our writers share tech trends and updates from around the globe and in our own backyard. Here are three reasons to write with us: 1. Instant local techie audience with notable overseas impact In 2012, weshipcode.com got over 37,000 unique hits to our main site, with the bulk of our readers coming from Singapore, the United States and Australia. Content that generally performs well include product reviews, technical how-to articles and event coverage. In particular, our how-to articles have an incredible lifespan online, with returning hits in the hundreds even months after the article is published from search engine traffic. Our average reader spends around 2 minutes on each article with a very low bounce rate (percentage of people leaving landing page without clicking through) of 1.08%. On social media, we’re popular among the 25-34 crowd with a potential social outreach of half a million eyeballs. We publicise our writers’ articles to our active online communities with an engagement rate (calculated via shares, comments and likes) almost twice the ratio of the average social media site. 2. Introvert? No problem. Write what you’re passionate about - and build your portfolio with us Blogging - one of the best ways to share thought leadership - is one of the rare platforms where natural introverts may have an advantage. Take your time and build your personal brand on the value of your ideas alone. You can advance your professional reach by sharing your thoughts with the local tech audience base via spiffy. Whether it be product reviews, tech trends or how-to guides - your opinion matters, and our articles range from the hyper-technical to the completely random. Regardless of genre, we believe quality content about the fascinating world of tech, like the industry itself, transcends category. And if you ever encounter writer’s block, we also have a list of article kickstarters for you to use as a starting point. 3. Access to exclusive tech events We occasionally organise or have partner events, and would love for you to join us and write about what you learnt. People often say that even a bad idea is better than a good idea unshared. So we’ve told you all the reasons why you should leverage on us - the next step is up to you. To find out more, send an email to a-nitanz@microsoft.com.

Nokia Lumia 1020: Camera

Mon, 14 Oct 2013 04:23:03 +0000

Gone are the days where one would need to carry a camera to take a decent shot. Yes, with Nokia’s innovation in the field of smartphone cameras, we can now shed the extra weight and carry both a smartphone and a camera in the same pocket. Apologies, we’re about to get quite technical. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezIZjFt80kQ[/youtube] Nokia’s PureView technology with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) allows amazing quality shots, even in low-light conditions. Photos remain crisp and sharp, even with a shaky hand. This is especially great for video recording. Check out the beautiful illustration of the technology in Nokia’s video above. The OIS does rely on a ball bearing, which, if the phone is shaken hard, can be slightly audible. Nokia’s inserted a notice into the Lumia 1020’s box clarifying that it is, however, all okay. It’s just the “sound of blur-free photos”! The Nokia Lumia 1020 comes bundled with a whole suite of Nokia’s exclusive camera apps, such as Nokia Pro Cam, Smart Cam, Panorama, Cinemagraph, and more. In the Lumia 1020, the camera button opens Nokia Pro Cam by default instead of the default Windows Phone camera app. This can be changed in Windows Phone’s Settings, under ‘applications’, in ‘photos+camera’. Nokia Pro Cam’s beyond amazing, as an app it offers a manual photography experience better than every other smartphone, and in my opinion even the digital still cameras. Major options including flash, white balance, focus, ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation are just a touch away. Adjusting the white balance, focus, and exposure compensation reflects real-time on the screen, allowing users to easily get their shot right. While Nokia Pro Cam is available on other Nokia Lumia Windows Phones as well, there are differences in the manual controls such as the Lumia 1020 being able to shoot with a maximum ISO of 4000 while the others are capped at 3200. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vR4LeL0yzE[/youtube] Nokia Pro Cam also allows users to “reframe” an image, that is, to zoom, crop, and/or rotate the image. Lastly, it can show information about the shot in a very neat information page. Some say that the Lumia 1020 is better than a DSLR, but I’m more comfortable with saying that it’s the closest you’re going to get to a DSLR. With Nokia Pro Cam, it’s got several features making it like a DSLR but with the right lens and photographer a DSLR would easily win. It should be noted that Nokia Pro Cam does not allow the adjustment of the camera’s aperture like a DSLR, instead fixing it at f2.0. Still, its ability to fit in one’s pocket does trump its weaknesses here. I feel that the Nokia Lumia 1020, with Nokia Pro Cam, is perfect for amateur photographers who are willing to explore manual photography, or have more control over their shots. I should note that I am the worst at photography, by the way. Ever since I got the Lumia 1020 I’ve been delving more into the world of photography, even asking my camera-enthusiast friends about camera functions like “what does the aperture do”, much to their chagrin. However, with the easy adjustments offered by Pro Cam, one could say it offers a learning experience as well as with trial and error and experimentation learn what each of the controls do. One could still leave everything on auto and take a decent shot, but if that’s all you’re going to do there’s the Lumia 920 or 925. Of course, the ability to zoom in like a ‘binoculars’ is still a huge plus and a way to awe those around you. Which brings us to some shots taken by me (no post-processing was done):- And a comparison shot by my friend, LastBattle from HardwareZone Forums. The devil is truly in the details, note the color and noise levels of the below two: You can see a few albums of pictures from my Lumia 1020 here:-

Exploring Gravity and Space

Thu, 10 Oct 2013 04:20:41 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17jymDn0W6U[/youtube] Konnichiwa! It has been almost a month since I returned to Singapore after completing my MBA degree at GLOBIS University, Japan. Recently, I was fortunate to be invited to a preview screening of the latest film by Alfonso Cuarón, “Gravity”, which starred Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. The movie was inspirational and its breathtaking scenes in outer space left the audience wanting more. Here are some great apps and online resources to satisfy your cravings for space exploration: Windows Applications a. Star Chart. [caption id=“attachment_15890” align=“alignnone” width=“300”] Star Chart[/caption] http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/6df7e745-782f-44e7-b408-6259a8da6a7f Explore the galaxy using this great app to learn more about the various planets, moons, and constellations. b. Explore the Moon. [caption id=“attachment_15891” align=“alignnone” width=“300”] Explore the Moon[/caption] http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/382ee911-b93e-4da0-85ca-8fcdc1d9ed7f Admire the beauty of the moon by exploring the app’s great 3D model based on the Worldwide Telescope from Microsoft Research. c. Satellites. [caption id=“attachment_15892” align=“alignnone” width=“300”] Satellites[/caption] http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-us/app/52b351ea-6226-4d33-8d00-dc4f2d48cbb5 Track over 1,300 satellites and their latest orbital positions to determine their visibility and the required azimuth and elevation to receive broadcast signals. Online Resources a. Flash Earth. [caption id=“attachment_15893” align=“alignnone” width=“300”] Flash Earth[/caption] http://www.flashearth.com/ Explore aerial images of the Earth based on Bing and Yahoo Maps. b. Digital Universe. [caption id=“attachment_15894” align=“alignnone” width=“300”] Digital Universe[/caption] http://www.amnh.org/our-research/hayden-planetarium/digital-universe/ Marvel at the beauty of the three-dimensional mapping of the Universe that was jointly developed by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) and the Hayden Planetarium. c. TED Talk Series - “Are we alone in the universe” and “Way, way out there”. [caption id=“attachment_15895” align=“alignnone” width=“300”] TED Talk[/caption] Learn more about the various topics on the universe and space exploration in two great TED talk series:

Nokia Lumia 1020: Overall Hardware

Wed, 09 Oct 2013 04:00:25 +0000

Before I write about the Nokia Lumia 1020’s camera, I’d like to first look into the overall hardware. Though the camera makes up most of the phone, both figuratively and literally, the rest of the hardware needs to compliment that camera. There are several aspects of the Lumia 1020 that gives it a special feel and look. Let’s start with the color. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1ujACrDMEM[/youtube] Did you know that Nokia is well-known for the colors they use in their smartphones? Nokia has long made pretty and colorful phone bodies that are now iconic to its brand. Examples of such are yellow and red, flashy colors that will no doubt draw attention and awe from passersby, and white, for people like me who like the good looking phone body but rather remain inconspicuous. The colors of the Nokia Lumia series have been one of the largest selling points, with competitors like Apple attempting to jump on the bandwagon with their iPhone 5C. As a fun-fact, Nokia’s witty remark against Apple has, of this posting, racked up more than 40,000 retweets, making it the most retweeted brand tweet.

Exclusive 30% off JSConf.Asia tickets for Spiffy readers

Tue, 08 Oct 2013 04:26:03 +0000

Known as JSCamp.Asia last year, the revamped JSConf.Asia is back from 28 to 29 November 2013. These two days are the dates that the web development community in Southeast Asia is putting up its 2nd installment of their largest independent gathering to discuss and learn about the latest advances in modern web technology. After JSCamp.Asia in Singapore, this year’s event will be hosted at the H2O Hotel and Ocean Club in Manila, Philippines. Over 2 days, 20+ of the best developers and speakers from around the world will share, educate and inspire the Asian audience. Some of them are:

Nokia Lumia 1020: General Overview

Mon, 07 Oct 2013 03:19:04 +0000

“Binoculars” is the nickname that my friends give the Nokia Lumia 1020. A bold claim for a smartphone camera, and after testing, holds true, in all its 41 megapixels glory. But more on that later. I have been using the Nokia Lumia 1020 for about a week now, and its performance, both in its camera functions and other operations, have been nothing short of stellar.

“We find ourselves in these kinds of situations very often, where some guy stands in the dark in front of you and talks and you can’t even see who he is, or, for that matter, people dancing with a couple of lights. If you want to capture that memory, it’s extremely tricky in those kinds of environments. Today, we’re going to share with you, a fabulous smartphone that has the capability to do those sorts of things.” - Eng Wah, Nokia Singapore

Visiting BizSpark Startup Company, GimmieWorld Pte Ltd

Thu, 03 Oct 2013 04:38:17 +0000

Every week, we pay tribute to the growing number of tech, media and creative companies sprouting in Singapore - the startup scene is alive and well! We visited GimmieWorld Pte Ltd on a Tuesday afternoon, as part of our continued initiative to visit different start-ups weekly. GimmieWorld, a Singapore-based provider of loyalty software for mobile and online publishers, focuses on creating customer loyalty. They have secured large players as anchor customers - for instance, Hungrygowhere.my, which provides restaurant guides, reviews and buffets to discover what and where to eat. According to Gimmie’s founder and CEO David Ng, he feels that GimmieWorld loyalty solutions can offer new revenue streams for their partners. In today’s commercial world , the importance of retaining existing customers and expanding business is paramount. Companies with more channels face difficulties in managing interactions with their customer base. GimmieWorld addresses this problem while creating delight through an enhanced user experience. User experience is important for any software solution, as the software is primarily an administrative working instrument. They understand that the success of their software critically depends on how motivated users feel to work with it. The entire loyalty solution was designed with user friendliness in mind, such as the ability to input their own rewards in only two minutes and choosing from customisable pre-built templates. How does GimmieWorld work? Publishers get an online dashboard to manage their programs. GimmieWorld requires users to register through Facebook, allowing brands to incentivise social sharing through additional offers. Rewards are given to the users for a variety of actions such as referrals, Facebook invites and unlocking badges. Once they are ready, users can visit a marketplace where they can redeem their points for free or towards discounted items such as Coffeebean and Breadtalk vouchers. Publishers can get revenue from all the reward redemptions provided by partners. Analytics and reports are auto-generated which enable companies to get insights of all reward members including their details, reward redemption statistics to track the events and rewards instantly. (refer to picture below) GimmieWorld also came up with a creative feature exclusively for retailers. The software can help to create virtual loyalty cards for users using their own Facebook account details. Each user will be given a unique ID number and barcode on their phone to show at the store. The barcode will be scanned using the modified barcode scanners which the company provides, allowing flexibility of plugging into laptops and tablets getting customer’s point of sale data easily. (refer to picture below) With GimmieWorld’s various ways to enhance CRM (customer relationship management) user experience, it is no doubt that their CRM software will soon be a hit in Singapore’s market. The company will be enabling others to resell the platform, and launch new product features for different types of mobile devices. If you are passionate about developing and building new software, do contact them as they are looking for interested interns to join their fun-loving team. Lastly, check out their cosy studio workplace environment they work in. Shelves are neatly packed with utensils, bottles and containers to categorise their items. There is also a microwave available for staff members to heat up their lunch. GimmieWorld office is located at Soho1 at central Clark Quay, which is five minutes away from the MRT station. For more details, visit: http://gimmieworld.com

Microsoft Surface 2: Should you get it?

Mon, 30 Sep 2013 03:40:19 +0000

After 18 months in the making, Microsoft’s next-gen Surface tablet is finally here. The Surface 2 is thinner, lighter, and faster than its predecessor, and comes with nifty new kickstands that open up in dual angles. In addition to its classic slatelike black body, the Surface 2 now sports a new silver magnesium body too, but still retains its sleek angular design. The tablet is also thinner at 8.9mm and weighs a little less at 676 grams. To address concerns around the original Surface RT’s slow performance and low screen resolution, Microsoft has bumped the specifications of Surface 2 to the Nvidia Tegra 4 processor, upgraded the 1366x768 screen to the new 1920x1080 ClearType display, and extended the battery life. Not only has Microsoft made improvements to the hardware on the Surface 2, the tech giant has also given the tablet a revamp on the software front. Running on Windows 8.1 RT, Surface 2 is now pre-loaded with Outlook, one of the key software missing in the first generation. Outlook will be bundled in with the RT version of Microsoft Office. Another key addition to the Surface 2 is a tighter SkyDrive integration, giving users the ability to save their files directly to the cloud. For every purchase of the Surface 2, customers will get 200GB of SkyDrive storage for two years at no cost. This comes in really useful for power users who need a bigger space to house their documents or photos. What’s more, unlimited free Skype calls to landlines in 60 countries and free Skype WiFi at over two million hotspots for a year sweeten the deal. If you are looking for a pretty solid tablet for your daily personal usage, the Surface 2 is definitely a great deal. Microsoft labels the Surface as the “most productive tablet for personal use”, and this is especially so with the enhanced SkyDrive integration, as well as the addition of Outlook RT. And with the number of apps on the Windows Store recently crossing the 100,000 mark, it’s interesting to see that Windows is gaining some pretty steady momentum. Planning to get your hands to the Surface 2 tablet? Unfortunately, Singapore is not listed as one of the first 22 markets where the Surface 2 will be shipping to. The Surface 2 comes with a price tag of US$449 for the basic 32GB model.

Bizspark Night: September 2013

Fri, 27 Sep 2013 04:00:16 +0000

On 19 September, we had our bi-monthly BizSpark night with over 70 startup founders and investors. We’ve summarised the highlights below: The first speaker, Saemin Ahn from Rakuten Ventures, spoke on fundraising for startups. Rakuten Ventures is currently offering seed funding for aspiring entrepreneurs ranging from USD700, 000 – USD 1,000,000, and typically look for C2C based e-commerce companies. What do Rakuten Ventures look for in startups? Rakuten Ventures are interested in innovative startups passionate about their great ideas. Ideally, Saemin said he was looking for startups developing a new app or product in a competing marketplace. Startups with existing apps may also qualify if they were able to enhance their app and bring a meaningful purpose of technologies to consumers and enterprises. In addition, startups should have the drive and commitment to experiment and improve with the collation of user activity and feedback. Saemin also commented that he is particularly interested in companies developing technologies such as:

Cloud OS Launch

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 07:06:19 +0000

Developer Feature: Lim Cheng Lei

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 06:30:04 +0000

In this Developer Feature series, Spiffy speaks to up-and-coming developers to learn what makes them tick. We talk next with Lim Cheng Lei, the Singapore Lead of the Microsoft Student Partner Programme. What is your background and how did you get here? I studied Information Technology back in Singapore Polytechnic, where I joined the Microsoft Student Partner Programme (MSP). During my role as the Singapore Lead in MSP, I had been exposed to various Microsoft technologies. Windows Phone and Windows 8 were some of those which I spent my time learning from other developers out there. What motivated you to start building apps? Being a Windows Phone and Windows 8 user myself, there were times where I was unable to locate applications which fit my needs. Hence, I took up the chance to start working on applications to fill up the gaps I had, and to share them with others - I have to add that one application just led to another. What is your app about? StockFolio is an Windows 8 application which allows users to build up and track stocks that mean the most to them, and track them closely in multiple markets. Moreover, it allows the user to create various portfolios for individual markets. It also provides other key information such as news related to the stock or market and other key statistics. At the current stage, it only supports multiple markets in Asia. In time to come, StockFolio will bring support to other market regions such Europe and America. How did you come up with the idea? The idea came when there was a lack of a stock tracking application in the Windows 8 Store. At the same time, the built-in finance application powered by Bing has its own limitation, such as the unavailability to create customised, personal portfolios and carry personalised information. Hence, I thought that having a stock application on the Windows 8 Store to address this limitation would be good. Where did you get the inspiration from? I have gotten inspiration from consultation with my friends and family members who are into stock trading. They help in me in understanding the key concept of what they are looking for in a stock tracking application, such as what are the key information they would like to see at a glance. More importantly, what is the decisive factor to commit a spending on getting a stock tracking app. What’s your process for designing the user journey? In the designing of the UI, I have researched various stock-related applications out there in the market. These application come from both the mobile platform and tablet platform. All these apps out there allowed me to get more ideas and identify their pros and cons in their designs. These were extremely important, as I had to take into consideration how these controls would like good and meaningful in a touch-friendly and mouse-friendly environment. Feedback from close friends also allowed me to better alter my UI, to allow the mass audience to understand how to use the app at the initial launch. What’s next for you? I will be developing more applications for the Windows 8 and Windows Phone platforms. At the same time, I will continuously updating my existing applications to bring greater collaboration between those which are available on both the Windows Phone and Windows 8 platform. Check StockFolio out here.

Imagine Cup 2014 IS NOW OPEN! Can we take it to the top again?

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 06:17:26 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iL-pn3hfFqw[/youtube]Microsoft’s bringing us home to Seattle!!!!!

For the 12th year running, the Imagine Cup will be bringing the best of student innovators across the world together in the world’s most prestigious technology competition. Students are invited not only to dream big, but also to strive towards creating tangible and valuable solutions that could possibly change the world. (Remember vSoft Studio? Our 2013 champions earned a trip to Russia and USD $25,000) This year, the competition is getting bigger than ever. Not only is Microsoft bringing the Cup home to Seattle, they have also revamped the model adding several new challenges that will take place throughout the year. These challenges do not require programming so any student can participate as long as they are willing to learn about the Software Development Life Cycle. Bringing the ‘WOW’ factor up a notch – they will be giving out more than $750,000 in prizes and potentially even more in the coming months.

Journey of a Windows UCrew Ambassador

Tue, 24 Sep 2013 02:08:50 +0000

The Windows UCrew Ambassador Programme is designed to help students embark on a journey to nurture their portfolio, as well as their leadership and communication skills. Being a UCrew Ambassador is more than just a programme for students, it is a journey that allows you to expand your social circle with other like-minded individuals in other Institutes of Higher Learning - as well as expanding your social connections towards the people in Microsoft. It is a journey filled with fun, friends and not to mention Technology in itself. [caption id=“attachment_15678” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Windows UCrew[/caption] Being a UCrew Ambassador, I had several responsibilities with regards to promoting Windows 8 and Office 2013 in my school, as well as during events. We were required to demo to the students a simple introduction to the features of Windows 8 and Office 2013, excite the student community on how they can use their touch-capable Windows 8 devices and collect feedback about how the student community feels about Windows 8 and Office 2013. We were trained to describe the new features in Windows 8 and how to present it to the students. All of us sat through a whole day of training understanding the concepts of marketing the latest interations of Windows and Office itself. Not to mention, after going through the training we had to socialise and get to know each other right? Almost everyone attended the UCrew Welcome Party which was organised by Microsoft and I’m pretty sure everyone had so much fun even though I did not get the chance to. [caption id=“attachment_15677” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Windows UCrew Training Kit[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_15675” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Windows UCrew Training[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_15675” align=“alignnone” width=“372”] Windows UCrew Welcome Party[/caption] My Journey as a UCrew Ambassador is slightly different from a normal UCrew Ambassador, as I felt that I had more opportunities to hone and improve myself due to my overlapping role as the Singapore Polytechnic Microsoft Student Partners Campus Lead. I was the point of contact for organising the roadshow that was to be held in my school, which required me to work together with different individuals from all the various divisions in the school. The planning took almost 4 months in advance with a lot of discussion about logistical issues and what not. Next time perhaps when you see a moderate-sized event, think about all the people in the background that helped contribute to the realisation of the event. [caption id=“attachment_15681” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Techfest @ Singapore Polytechnic[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_15683” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] A Metal Hat for Me[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_15684” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Windows 8 Photobooth[/caption] Other responsibilities instead of just organising a UCrew event, I am glad to say that I have attended a lot of the other UCrew related events along the way. Some events consist of the Surface Launch in Singapore that was held at Funan The IT Mall at Challenger, Japanese Pop Rock Band Scandal Live in Singapore at *SCAPE, and NBS Week. The photos below speak for themselves! [caption id=“attachment_15686” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Fellow UCrew Ambassadors[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_15682” align=“alignnone” width=“406”] Jovan & Me[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_15685” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Scandal Tour with Windows 8[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_15694” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] NBS Week 2013[/caption] All in all, good things must come to an end, right? We had another UCrew Gathering Party to just keep each other upgraded on our progress and for us to sit around bond and hopefully getting to know more people around all the other IHL’s. Personally I really enjoyed my time and I definitely feel that this experience has contributed a significant amount of experience in the marketing of products as I was never a promoter to begin with. At the same time, making a lot of fun and wonderful friends along the way. We ended our journey at Seoul Garden with our UCrew Graduation Party and I used ‘We’ because this journey would not have mattered were it not for my fellow ambassadors. I look forward to the Second Iteration of the UCrew Ambassador Journey where much more exciting journeys will be sure to begin. [caption id=“attachment_15696” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] UCrew Gathering Party[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_15680” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] UCrew Graduation Party[/caption]

Youth Engagement Series with Ms. Jessica Tan

Sun, 22 Sep 2013 18:07:44 +0000

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.

Top 5 free IT courses

Mon, 16 Sep 2013 05:42:44 +0000

Whether you’re an absolute coding noob or an experienced developer, everyone benefits from free online resources. We’ve compiled what seems to be the most popular courses hosted on Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA) in Singapore. #5. Windows Phone 8 development for absolute beginners Mobile app developers make their presence felt, as a Windows Phone 8 course comes in at number 5. What you’ll learn:

Basics of installing and working with Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows Phone and the Emulator
XAML layout and events
How to utilize many of the Phone’s built in features and additional open-source libraries
Complete app walk-thoughs: The first app you’ll build is the SoundBoard app that allows you play pre-recorded sounds and record your own custom sounds. The second app you’ll build is the AroundMe app which integrates the Phone’s Map, GPS and Lock Screen capabilities with Flickr’s API.

#4. Windows Server 2012 Training: Technical Overview What you’ll learn:

Visiting BizSpark Start-up Company, Prototype Asia Pte Ltd

Thu, 12 Sep 2013 03:55:11 +0000

We have recently visited Prototype Asia Pte Ltd on Tuesday morning, to kick start our visitation to different start-up companies under our program, Microsoft BizSpark. Prototype Asia Pte Ltd, a company on the forefront of 4D printing, started out as a firm providing software prototypes and solutions in 2010. With turnover estimated to hit $1.24 million inoperations, Prototype Asia’s business model is one of the first few to have succeeded in 3D printing industry. The company transform ideas in products through the latest prototyping technologies. As a newly start-up, Prototype Asia Pte Ltd’s success story did not come easy, they had financial difficulties in getting bank loans and funds to purchase their 3D printing machines which each cost more than hundreds of thousand dollars. Thankfully, Singapore Economic Development Board has announced this morning to set aside $500 million over the next five years to develop the three-dimensional (3D) printing sector which will definitely aid their start-up funding here in Singapore. (Refer to link) So you might be wondering how they managed to print their 3D models out of printers for their clients? They have a printer that reminiscent of Star trek Replicator, creating something magical out of thin air. It can “print” in plastic, nylon and other materials for manufacture prototypes, injection moulds and figurines.
We had the opportunity to get first-hand experience to view the 3D printer, that creates a three dimensional object by building its layer by successive layer, until object is complete. Just imagine a multi-layer cake, with baker laying down each layer one at a time until the entire cake is formed. Each layer is thinly sliced, horizontal cross section of eventual object. A sample prototype of an engine part is shown in picture above. Prototype Asia Pte Ltd is currently working with local enterprises that deal with consumer electronics, advertising and marketing in effort to improve their Research & Development processes. Models of complex architectural drawing can now be created quickly instead of handcrafting model out of cardboard and customers are able to create new products, redesign and refine existing ones into functional prototype. We were given the opportunity to tour around their office workspaces. Prototype Asia Pte Ltd have a conducive office environment to work in which they create 3D prototypes and transform design and ideas into products from there. They also have a vast range of C#/Java/Engineering-related library books that is available for the staff to loan for research and development purposes. Books are classified according to subjects and expertises. We would like to extend our heartiest thanks to Prototype Asia Pte Ltd for hosting the visit and wished them all the best in their business. If you are looking for a career in mechanical and software engineering, contact them at http://prototype.asia/careers/ Read more at http://prototype.asia/

Labour-Saving Application Frameworks

Sun, 08 Sep 2013 12:55:52 +0000

For many app developers – novice and experts alike – application frameworks are huge life and time savers. Using abstraction, they support OOP techniques providing both reliability and reusability of program codes crucial to the foundation structure of writing an application. Creating a framework, however, can be an extremely complex and exasperating process that can drive even the most experienced developer insane. Fortunately, the popularity and rise of application frameworks for the Windows Platform means that it is now possible for any ordinary Janes and Joes to easily pick up app-development and create something they can proudly call their own. 1. Xamarin Xamarin delivers high performance compiled code with full access to all native APIs so you can create native apps with device-specific experiences. Xamarin supports cross-platform development with Visual Studio integration (Windows, iOs, Android), allowing you to finish your app quicker yet still look awesome. 2. Appery.io Appery.io offers a cloud-based rapid development environment with integrated back-end services and a rich catalog of API plug-ins that dramatically simplify integration with cloud services and enterprise systems. It is 100% cloud-based and combines the simplicity of visual development with the power of JS to create cross platform enterprise apps rapidly. 3. GameSalad GameSalad makes game creation easy by empowering you with the tools and platform to rapidly design, publish and distribute original games. Its visual, drag & drop interface and complex behavior library provides almost limitless freedom to game designers shortening weeks and months of work into hours and days. 4. Construct 2 Construct 2 is another powerful game creator that support HTML5 and 2D game development. For the new and even non-programmers, it makes building games easy as no coding is required. The user can simply click to select his desired features and code will be auto-generated. For the professionals, Construct 2 can be used to create mockups and prototypes or as a faster alternative to coding from scratch. 5. touchdevelop TouchDevelop lets you create apps on any devices (yes, even your phones) and export them to the both Windows Stores or as HTML5 web apps. TouchDevelop also comes with tutorials and high-level APIs that support direct use of sensors and media. It stores your scripts on the cloud so you can install, run, edit and publish them cross-platforms anytime and anywhere. More resources: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps Bonus for the lazy beginner: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps

IT starting salaries in Singapore for 2013

Fri, 06 Sep 2013 08:35:40 +0000

So maybe you’re a student deciding between taking a business or a computing degree (or both!), or you’re thinking about pursuing a career in IT but are unsure of future local prospects. Here’s a quick overview of the current job market for IT professionals starting out in Singapore. ! these reports? References: http://www.salary.sg/2013/graduate-employment-survey-2012-published-2013/ http://www.iras.gov.sg/irasHome/page.aspx?id=15206 http://www.adecco-asia.com/singapore/2012SalaryGuideSingapore/files/inc/1285559243.pdf

Winners for Windows Phone Challenge (Lumia 920 & Lumia 925)

Wed, 04 Sep 2013 09:18:18 +0000

Hi Folks, We have ended our previous windows phone challenge here, and these are the winners for the specific ideas :) We are opening up the rest of the applications for sudden death mode. This sudden death challenge will end after 14th September 2359hrs, after that we will be running an all new challenge! Be the first to publish the application meeting all the requirement and you will win the challenge! 1. Singapore 4D/Toto result application with Push Notifications whenever the results are available. Live Tiles and Lockscreen capable of showing latest results. Voice command to launch application (“what’s the 4D/Toto/Lottery result today”), (“what’s the previous 4D/Toto/Lottery result”),(“what’s the 4D/Toto/Lottery result last week”), and speech synthesis should read out the results in Mandarin and English. Optional: Location Based Services to find the nearest betting stations. 4DTOTO@SG 2. Address locator application with Live Tiles, Lock-screen and voice command. It will to let you know the civil/friendly address of “where you are”. Voice command for users to ask “where am i”, or “what’s the address of my current location”. The application will launch, read out the location you are and show the civic address (505 bukit panjang ring road)+map on the phone. Live tiles and Lock-screen will show on a periodic basis (using background task) current civic address + map of user. Locate Me 3. Singapore Weather Application with Push Notification, Secondary Live Tiles, Lock-screen and Voice command. You maybe assume that users of this application will only be from Singapore. Voice command to launch application “will it rain today”, “will it rain tomorrow”, “will it rain next Monday”, “will it rain on 4th July”, “is it sunny today”, “is it cloudy today”, “what’s the weather for the next 3 days”, “what’s the weather for the next 5 days”, “what’s the weather for the week”. Application should response with voice and necessary weather information. Push notifications should be implemented for flood warnings, haze level, and rains + probability for subscribed areas. Example user can subscribe to office (raffles place), school (clementi) and home (bukit panjang) location for rain notification. Users can pin secondary live tiles of raffles place, clementi and bukit panjang to start screen. Users should have the option to display the weather information on their Lock-screen. Open for Sudden Death 4. School planning application with Voice command, for parents to find out which primary/secondary schools are nearby for their child. After allowing users to set their home location via GPS/map selection/address/postal code, this application will be show nearby schools on the map control. The application will after which draw a transparent circle around the home location to show which schools are within the radius. Tapping the school on the map should launch the browser or show more information about the school. Voice command to launch application “what are the schools around 018989”, “what are the schools around me now”, “what are the schools around this area”, “what are the schools around 30 bedok north road”. Application to response with map and list of schools around user specified location. EDUHere 5. Singapore Pools Soccer Betting Information with Push Notifications when results are out for user-specified soccer league, Voice command, Live Tiles and Lock-screen showing latest results. Voice command to launch application (“what’s the latest results for champions league”). Application read out results in English, and show the available results on screen. Secondary live tiles should show results of user-specified soccer league. Lock-screen should show the latest soccer results. Optional: Location Based Services to find the nearest betting stations. Closed 6. CarPark lots availability application with Voice command, Secondary Live tiles, which shows a list of CarPark and lots. The application should have the capability of pinning specific CarPark secondary live tile showing the parking lots left. Voice command to query on specific CarPark lots left (“what is the available lots in marina bay sands”), with voice response (“there are 100 lots left in marina bay sands”). Get Me A Lot 7. Queue watch application for polyclinics in Singapore with Voice command and Secondary Live tiles. Users should be able to pin secondary live tiles of specified polyclinics to start screen, showing number of queue and waiting time. Lock-screen should allow users to display the number of patient and waiting time of specified clinic. Voice command to launch “how’s/what’s the queue at bedok polyclinic”. Application should read out number of queues, waiting time and display the live camera feed for bedok polyclinic. The list of polyclinic should be sorted by waiting time, and navigational directions should be given on how to transit to the selected polyclinic from current location. SG Polyclinic 8. Clinic finding application in Singapore. This application will list the clinics nearby or the entire list base on their affiliation. When working in companies, HR typically issues medical benefit cards to employees. Different medical benefit card requires you to visit different clinics. This application will show you the different type of benefit schemes, and the clinics/hospital/ Traditional Chinese Medicine Physician which you can visit. It should show information such as name, address, opening hours and contact number of the clinic. This application should also show the list (top 50) of nearby clinics on a map. Voice command should allow you to search for clinics base on name, or affiliations. Closed Nokia Lumia 925 Challenges 1. Singapore taxi fare calculator with Voice command. This application will estimated price and suggest the route to take. Voice command to launch application (“how much does it cost to take a cab from changi to yishun”), (“how much does it cost to take a cab to changi airport”), (“how much does it cost to take a cab from 505 bukit panjang to 100 bedok north road). Application should read out amount and show the map + route on screen. Do include CBD, Peak hours, Airport, Midnight and ERP charges. SG Taxi Fare 2. Singapore Movie Application to find out the vacancies of SG Cinemas for various movies. Voice command will be able to query “what is the availability of despicable me today”. The application should show the list of cinemas and the available number of seats in the cinema. SGFlix 3. Internet radio for Singapore channels, with capabilities to pin secondary tiles for specific radio channels. Voice command to launch application (turn on the radio for class 95), and secondary tile allows launching of app directly to radio channel. SG Radio 4. Voice command application to find commonly used / amenities around you, example AXS, ATM, SAM Machines, Convenient Store, Post Office, Supermarket, Police Station, MRT Stations etc…. Voice command to launch application “where is the nearest dbs atm”, and would show you the direction+map on how to get there. The list of amenities should be reliably accurate and recently updated. Places@SG 5. Phone book application with Voice command, which searches Singapore’s directory for the contact number and dials the number for you. Voice command enabled and allows you to search by voice. Example “call OCBC, call ministry of manpower, call Macdonald’s delivery, call crystal jade Holland village”. It should show to source of the number (google.com, hungry go where, yellow pages or other sources) before attempting to dial the number. Find A Number 6. Push notification, Secondary Live Tile and Lock-Screen application for Flights out of Singapore, it will send a push notification once the fare to the user once it drops below user’s specified price. The Lock-Screen should also be able to show/monitor a list of flights. The Secondary live tile should be able to show list of countries which fares are below a user specified threshold. The voice command will be able to query “what are the flights below $200”, “how much does it cost to fly to Kuala Lumpur” Closed 7. ERP monitoring application for Singapore with Voice command and Secondary Live tiles. Users should be able to pin secondary live tiles of specified ERP gantry to lock-screen, showing the price of crossing the gantry for different vehicle at last tile scheduled update time. Voice command to launch “how much does it cost to cross (gantry abc) at 3pm on weekdays/weekends”. Application should response with speech, speaking and showing the price of different vehicles of the queried gantry at the queried timing (do take note of weekdays and weekend differences. Show/response with free/nocharge if ERP gantry is turned off for these voice queries. SG ERP Rates 8. Tertiary education application in Singapore. This application will list the cut of points for courses in the 4 universities and 5 polytechnic in Singapore. It should show the history of cut of points published by the school across the years and there should be official writeup on what the courses are about. It should show information such as name, address, contact number of the tertiary institute. The application should allow user to search for institutes and courses filtered by cut off points / grades for A/O Levels. You should also show the transportation, bus services and MRT stations around the institute. It would be great if there is multiple direct bus route coverage show on a map for the particular institute. Voice command should be able to launch the application, allow user to query the cut off point of specific course. It should show the results for both polytechnic and university. Example “eduapp, show me what is the cut off point for computer science.”, “eduapp, what is the cut off point for business administration” EduSG 9. Singapore Post Application - This application will help to find nearby post office and post box. This application will also calculate the cost associated with the weight/size of a parcel. The application must support package tracking of Singapore Post registered packages, and live tiles + Lock-Screen should show the progress of these packages. Optional: there would be a push notification sent to the user when the item is delivered. SG Post 10. Singapore MRT Application - This application will show the map of singapore’s metro / MRT stations. Users would be able to search for a specific station and the station should blink if there is a match. It will also help the user to find the shortest route from one station to another station. Information on the first and last train should be provided to the user. The application should also show various top point of interest near the MRT station. Voice command would be able the launch the application by saying “what are the interesting places around jurong east”, and the application should show a list of point of interest around this MRT station.

Windows Phone 8 GDR2 + Nokia Amber Update now available in Singapore

Thu, 29 Aug 2013 09:37:51 +0000

The Windows Phone GDR2 update (8.0.1032x.77) is now available for Windows Phone 8 devices in Singapore. This update brings the following improvements:-

Xbox Music. Easier to select, download, and pin music. More accurate metadata and other performance improvements.
FM radio. Possible to listen to FM radio from the Music+Videos hub.
Data Sense. Possible to set a limit based on the data plan
Skype. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) apps like Lync and Skype features improved stability and performance.
Internet Explorer. Better browsing experience with improved HTML 5 compatibility.
Camera. Set favorite Lens so it opens automatically when pressing the camera button.
Other improvements. Includes many other improvements to Windows Phone.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwKBy_yf7CA[/youtube] For Nokia Lumia devices, an additional update is bundled with the GDR2 update, titled the Nokia Amber Update (3047.0000.132x.xxxx). This update brings several improvements and features on top of the GDR2 update, including the enhancement of the phone’s camera, the glance screen, flip to silence, new wallpapers, ability to adjust the device’s color profile, call+sms filtering, and support for apps such as Nokia Smart Cam, Pro Cam, Video Upload, and more. You can check for updates by going to “Phone Update” under Settings and pressing “Check for updates”. Alternatively, your phone will tell you if an update is available if it is set to automatically check for updates. Once the Amber Update is complete, Nokia Lumia devices can download new apps and update existing system apps to gain more functionality. This can be done from the Store or via the QR Codes below (QR Codes courtesy of All About Windows Phone). It is worth noting that StarHub was the first to roll out the update. Kudos! For more information/reading, see:- Windows Phone 8 update history | Windows Phone How-to (Singapore) Windows Phone Amber Update - Nokia What’s new in the GDR2 and Lumia Amber Windows Phone updates? Availability in Asia Pacific - Nokia Note: If you do not see the update on your device, note that this update is a phased roll-out and should then be available to you shortly.

Nokia Lumia WP8s with GDR2 get call+SMS filter

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 09:39:46 +0000

Nokia has just updated their extras+info app, adding a new “call+SMS filter” that as the name suggests, allow users to block calls and texts from specific numbers. Your phone needs to have the GDR2 Update, though. This said update is present on new Nokia Lumia 925s and 1020s, and will be coming to the Telco-variant older WP8 Lumias in the coming weeks.

You can update your extras+info app by going to this link, or by scanning the above QR Code with your Windows Phone.

Conversion Centered Design & Getting Better Landing Pages

Tue, 27 Aug 2013 05:45:46 +0000

A startup founder recently shared with me a book called Conversion Centered Design. It’s a handy guidebook on learning how to build, publish & A/B Test landing pages without fussing too much about the technology. What is Conversion Centered Design? “CCD is a discipline targeted at designing experiences that achieve a single business goal. It seeks to guide the visitor toward completing that one specific action, using persuasive design and psychological triggers as devices to increase conversions.” - According to the authors of the book and founders of the company Unbounce (who used to be interaction designers). Focus on Landing Pages “Landing pages are the perfect medium to facilitate CCD due to their ‘less is more’ approach. Landing pages use congruent design – having a single collective purpose – to usher your visitors toward the finish line.” The Seven Principles of Conversion Centered Design If you are too lazy to read the full 70 pages of the book, then the above slideshare presentation gives a good overview of the 7 Principles of Conversion Centered Design. The 7 core elements of CCD can be broken down into two groups; design and psychology.

Windows Server 2012 R2 Gen 2 VMs

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 11:14:21 +0000

In Windows Server 2012 R2, you can create a new type of VMs called Generation 2 VMs. Gen 2 VMs will give you several benefits including:

Emulated devices have been removed
Allows for boots from virtual SCSI
You can boot from synthetic network adapters
Boot from UEFI instead of BIOS
UEFI secure boot is enable
You can run Gen1 and Gen2 VMs side by side
Enable Enhanced Session Mode

Why Gen 2 VMs?

Historically OSs didn’t natively understand virtualization, and in the case of Hyper-V, could not just use the VMbus. This is why there are emulated IDE controllers, legacy network adapters, emulated BIOS, COM & LPT ports, keyboard or mouse PS/2 connections, floppy drives, and other system devices such as PCI to ISA bridge. All of these emulated type devices include the requirement to boot from an IDE controller, because the assumption was that OSs weren’t natively virtual aware. Today, even Linux now are natively virtualization aware. Therefore in Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V, a new Gen 2 VM is available that removes all the legacy, emulated hardware and provides a UEFI environment that supports 64-bit OSs that are Windows 8 and Windows 2012 or later. Generation 2 VMs can boot from the SCSI bus and from the synthetic network device.

How to maximize and activate your BizSpark MSDN Benefits for Windows Azure

Mon, 26 Aug 2013 10:51:46 +0000

One of the common questions I get is how to maximize and activate BizSpark’s MSDN Benefits for Windows Azure. These free Azure credits allow you to save tonnes of upfront capital costs and focus on building your product on top of our services. Multiple accounts also allow you to do testing on multiple machines. Here’s is a quick guide on how you can maximize your benefits! What is Windows Azure? Windows Azure is an open and flexible cloud platform that enables you to quickly build, deploy and manage applications across a global network of Microsoft-managed datacenters. You can build applications using any language, tool or framework. And you can integrate your public cloud applications with your existing IT environment. [caption id=“attachment_15328” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Windows Azure Offerings[/caption] Windows Azure Offerings for BizSpark Members [caption id=“attachment_15339” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Azure Benefits for BizSpark Members[/caption] Windows Azure provides great benefits for BizSpark members. BizSpark members automatically receive the Windows Azure benefit through their Visual Studio Ultimate with MSDN subscriptions. These benefits include $150USD monthly credits of Windows Azure, lower rates and no additional charge for using MSDN software on Windows Azure. In addition, BizSpark members retain production use rights under this Windows Azure benefits offer. [caption id=“attachment_15340” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Azure Rates for BizSpark[/caption] Activate and Maximise Your Benefits for Windows Azure. 1. Add more members to your BizSpark account. Just click on ‘Manage’ on the left bar after logging into BizSpark.com. *Remember that you can add up to 8 developers under your account so that they can have access to the benefits of BizSpark. [caption id=“attachment_15335” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Add more members to your BizSpark account.[/caption] 2. Next, go to this [link](Go to this link to view all Azure benefits and click on ‘activate’. http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/pricing/member-offers/bizspark-benefits/) to view all Azure benefits and click on ‘activate’. [http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/pricing/member-offers/bizspark-benefits/](Go to this link to view all Azure benefits and click on ‘activate’. http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/pricing/member-offers/bizspark-benefits/) [caption id=“attachment_15343” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Azure activation[/caption] 3. Log on with your Microsoft Account (the ID that you provided when applying for BizSpark). [caption id=“attachment_15344” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Windows Azure Login[/caption] 4. Check the box for terms and services and select ‘Purchase’. 5. You’ll be brought to your Azure account management page, where you can access your subscriptions. BizSpark Members get Visual Studio Ultimate with MSDN. [caption id=“attachment_15346” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] You can check the amount of credits in your account simply by clicking the subscription.[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_15349” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Each BizSpark member given US$200 credits at the start, and subsequently, $150.[/caption] Each BizSpark startup gets to add up to 8 accounts to their BizSpark membership and each gets US$150 worth of credits per month. That’s $1,200 credits per month. Feel free to utilize all the accounts and try the great services we have on Azure! Have fun!

Navigating the Singapore Ecosystem with BizSpark

Fri, 23 Aug 2013 08:29:27 +0000

I get lots of questions about the BizSpark program and how we help entrepreneurs. So I thought this slideshow and little brochure would help you, the startup founder, understand what the community is like in Singapore. Essentially, we provide software, support, visibility, and community to promising startups and visionary entrepreneurs — at no charge. We currently serve 50,000+ members in 100 countries across 6 continents.

Navigating the Singapore Startup Eco-system with Microsoft BizSpark from Joyce Huang

Review: Nokia Lumia 925

Thu, 22 Aug 2013 03:31:27 +0000

The Nokia Lumia 920 is no doubt the most powerful Windows Phone 8 device currently out in the market right now. Nokia put so many features into it, but there are some features that some don’t need such as the wireless charging. For some, especially working professionals, the bright colors of the Lumia 920 were not working out for them. Nokia has, however, just come out with the new Lumia 925, which is another Windows Phone 8 device that is similar to the Lumia 920, with some upgraded features and some removed. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uj99wKhhYw[/youtube] Compared to the Lumia 920, the Lumia 925 has no in-built wireless charging, but like the Lumia 820, an optional snap-on cover is available for purchase to enable it. It’s dimensions are also smaller at 127.5 x 70.5 x 8.5mm as compared to the Lumia 920 at 130.3 x 70.8 x 10.7mm. While the Lumia 920 is made from a full piece of polycarbonate, the Lumia 925 has aluminum sides and a polycarbonate back. The aluminum sides are interesting the phone’s antenna, meaning the phone will have great reception due to the open nature of the antenna. “And yes, you can hold it however you like”.

FREE eBook – Introducing Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview Release

Wed, 21 Aug 2013 15:36:12 +0000

In case you hadn’t heard, the Introducing Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview Release book from Microsoft Press is now available. You can download it for FREE or order your own hard copy version. This is a great way for you and our valued customers and partners to see what’s new in Windows Server 2012 R2. A System Center 2012 R2 version is underway and there will be a much lengthier version after Windows Server 2012 R2 is generally available.

Developer Feature: Imagine Cup 2013 Winners Team vSoft Studio

Tue, 20 Aug 2013 06:01:44 +0000

In this Developer Feature series, Spiffy talks to up-and-coming developers to learn what makes them tick. We kick off with Huy Quôc Cao Minh and Nguyen Quy Hy, recent champions of the 2013 Imagine Cup (Tran Nguyen Tu Quyen not pictured), and Thao Phuong Lý. What is your background and how did you get here? We are two computer science students from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. We are very passionate about technology, especially the new Microsoft platforms like Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, Windows Azure… Therefore we take our chances to participate in various Microsoft Singapore competitions to improve our skills. This time, we also came with another friend as our artist and tester for the app. What motivated you to start building apps? We are computer science students, therefore writing code has become a hobby, coding for fun. Also, building apps and publishing apps to the Store give us a huge opportunity to strengthen our skill sets though real-life usage and user reviews. What is your app about? Project Timeline is a project planning app running on Windows 8 platform. Instead of providing a task list to users, Project Timeline takes a different approach using a timeline, where all the tasks can be viewed with start and end date details efficiently. We believe that start date and due date are essential parts of any tasks, so our users should be able to keep track of those dates easily all the time. Besides, Project Timeline also supports working with multiple collaborators, so planning tasks with and assigning tasks to your teammates have never been easier. How did you come up with the idea? We took the idea from our own needs. As students, we have multiple projects running concurrently, for example assignments, school projects, and also our own personal coding projects. So with this amount of projects running, it becomes quite difficult to manage all the tasks, especially planning and managing the time period and deadline for each task. We need a tool that provides some kind of timeline view to efficiently plan our tasks, like a Gantt chart. However a quick search on the Windows Store did not return any suitable result. Therefore we decided to build one to fill in that gap, and that’s how Project Timeline was born. Where did you get the inspiration from? We get the inspiration from the Gantt chart: all the tasks can be planned on a timeline, with task dependencies, relations… which assists a lot in the planning big projects. What’s your process for designing the user journey? As we have said, Project Timeline was born first to suit our own needs for a task management tools. When we designed Project Timeline, we took ourselves at the view of the users and used the app intensively on our own projects, so we can identify what functions we need or don’t need, and how we want the app to response. We also tried Project Timeline on both laptops and tablets, to make it efficient with mouse and keyboard and even more enjoyable with touch. In the view of a user, we can identify small but very necessary functions, such as dragging the tasks in the timeline to reschedule it. We always try to provide our users with as much flexibility as possible without compromising on the simplicity and fluidity of a tablet app, so we also take the approach of releasing features in many sets of releases and listen to reviews from our users to better fine-tune the app. What’s next for you? We are graduating students. So this is our last summer with a lot of free time. Building apps has become our hobby and fun. We will definitely continue what we have set up. There are more apps, new ideas to be implemented and there are also currently published apps to update and maintain. So we guess it will be a busy summer for us after all. J Specifically for Project Timeline, we were not able to implement everything we have envision in our first release, so we are working on making planning projects even more convenient through our future updates. We will also work on implementing Project Timeline on Windows Phone and the web to make sure that our users can always plan and track their tasks easily.

Using SQL Data Sync to Synchronize On-Premises Database to Windows Azure

Wed, 14 Aug 2013 04:42:32 +0000

Have you ever thought of scaling your Web Application so that it can extend the usage to external parties or have you ever hit in any situation where you have some subset of your data in your on-premises SQL Server that you require it for other system that are external facing? Let’s take for example, if you have an intranet that is hosted within your own corporate network which store membership details that you all are keeping it for internal usage all along. Then on one fine day you all decide to explore the Cloud by putting your custom developed newsletter blasting system to the Cloud as you would prefer not to choked up the bandwidth in your corporate network. Therefore, how in this world could we have the best of the both world? How can we maintain a set of information but can be used in multiple systems in multiple locations but still maintain the integrity and consistency without any duplication within the dataset itself? SQL Data Sync Agent is here to save the woes of people who are facing such issue. Currently, the SQL Data Sync Agent is in the Preview stage and has not reached the General Availability stage therefore things may change but I anticipate that things wouldn’t be that far off as the current tool is really designed and developed to be simple and user friendly. More information on TechNet. Let’s take the following as an example. I have this 3 tables in one of my Web Application that is hosted in my corporate data centre which is hosted within the network and no external interface to the internet. Right now, I need to surface the membership table to one of the newly created database in Windows Azure so that the other application that is hosted on Windows Azure will be able to access these information. Creation of Windows Azure SQL Database Let’s navigate to Windows Azure Management Portal then select SQL Databases via the left hand corner navigation bar. If this Azure account is newly created, then you probably wouldn’t have any database created. Click on Create a SQL Database to continue. Key in the necessary information to continue the setup of the SQL Database on Windows Azure. If you do not have any SQL Database instance setup before, you will likely not have any SQL Server setup. Therefore, go ahead and select “New SQL Database Server”. Continue to define the SQL database server settings by entering your preferred username and password. Please note that this username and password is very important because it is the username you will be using to log on to the SQL Server Management Portal on Windows Azure Management Portal. Do note that you will need to ensure that you check that checkbox if you want other of your Windows Azure Services to access this database. An example will be, if you decided to host your Web Application to host onto one of the Virtual Machine while utilizing the Database hosted on Windows Azure SQL Database rather than loading and managing your own SQL Server instance on Virtual Machine. Go ahead and click on the “Tick” to proceed to create your SQL Database. The creation process should take less than one minute and you will know it is done when the database status is flag as “Online”. Installation of SQL Data Sync Agent (Preview) and Configuration of Sync Agent Go ahead and download the SQL Data Sync Agent if you have not done so and install on any of the computer within your corporate network which have access to the internal SQL Server. In my example, I will just install the SQL Data Sync Agent onto the SQL Server itself but it should be the same even if the two program seats on separate client. After installation, launch Microsoft SQL Data Sync Agent Preview found in the start menu as shown. You will be welcome by the simple and neat interface. You will notice that most of the controls are being gray out. What you are left with is to enter the Agent Key so that Windows Azure can communicate with your client that host the SQL Data Sync program. Upon clicking on the Submit Agent Key Configuration, a popup will appear as shown below. However, on first try, I have no idea what to key in. There after, I caught this message that I have highlighted. The key that is require can be retrieved from the SQL Data Sync web portal. Navigate back to the Windows Azure Management Portal, navigate to the SQL Databases and look at the bottom. You will notice there are other navigational items available. Click on Add Sync which will show two more options available. Select New Sync Agent. Give a name to the Sync Agent. Notice at the top, it actually prompt you that you will need your local client agent to be installed. Click on the “Tick” to proceed and this Sync Agent will be created. Notice the “Status” is currently flag as Offline because we have not configure the local agent to communicate with the one at Windows Azure. Our ultimate purpose is to get the key so that we can input into the configuration popup window at the local agent. So we click on the arrow at the Sync Agent to go into the detail page. Notice that at the bottom, there is this option “Manage Key” that is available. Click on it. Instructions is available at the top. Just click on the “Generate” button to generate the access key and click on the “Copy to Clipboard” button just beside the Generate button. When you are done, navigate back to the client that you install the local sync agent. Input the access key into the popup window. Once the key is validated to be valid, the other controls will be enabled. Click on “Register” to register the SQL Database in your organization. Enter the SQL Server details along with the targeted database that you want the Sync to take upon. Click on “Test Connection” to ensure that the connection can be established. Once verified, click “Save”. Now, you will notice that the SQL Database is being added to the list. In order to do a verification, click on “Ping Sync Service” to determine if the connection back to the Sync Agent at Windows Azure is reachable. Next navigate to the Windows Azure Management Portal. Right now, you should see the Sync Agent status will switch to “Online”. Click the arrow beside the Sync Agent to view the details inside. You should see the database and the SQL Server hostname. Creation of Sync Group and Objects Go back to the SQL Databases main menu and as usual click on “Add Sync” and select “New Sync Group” this time. Enter the details and select your desire region. Click the arrow to proceed and select the Hub Database and key in your desire credentials. Notice that there is this “Conflict Resolution”. What it actually does is in times of conflict, whose data should take the precedent. So it depends on which is your master database. If new information is mainly populate through the database server located within your organization, then select “Client Wins” else select “Hub Wins”. Click on the arrow to proceed. Now you will be prompt to select the referencing database. This time round, Windows Azure will need to know which database its needs to communicate with. In this case, it will be the database in the organization. Then select the Sync Direction on which how you want data to flow. Do you want the Windows Azure SQL Database to always read from the SQL Database in the Corporate Network or you may have changes that is always made on both end and you want synchronization between the two location? After you click on the “Tick”, it will go on to proceed the creation of the Sync Group. Then you will notice that the status will be shown as “Not Ready”. Fret not, it just means that you have not decide what to sync between the two SQL Database. Click on the Sync Group to view the details. You will notice the following. Select Sync Rules. You will be welcome with this page, by right you shouldn’t have any Sync Rules being added yet. Click on “Define Sync Rules”. Select one of the database. In this case, I select my SQL Server database that is located within the organization. You should see all the tables that you have that resemble the database back in the organization. Select the columns that you want to be Synchronized. For my case, I want the whole “Membership” table to be synchronize between the two data sources. Therefore, I check all the columns as shown in the table. After making the selection, click “Save” to commit your selection. Next, click on “Configure” on the top navigation and we will proceed with configuring the Automatic Synchronization of the data between the sources. Click on “ON” and define the Sync Frequency. Make sure to click on “Save” to commit the changes. Proceed to click on “Sync” to do a force synchronization between the two data sources so that we can see some results. Head back to the SQL Database on Windows Azure and click into the Database as shown. Click on “Set up Windows Azure firewall rules for this IP address” so that you will be able to connect into the management portal to manage the database. One of the magic charm bar will appear at the bottom with your IP address as the detail, just click Yes to proceed. Click on “Design your SQL database” to launch the SQL Database Management Portal. You will be prompted with the login screen to provide your credentials. Upon successful login, you should see the tables in your Windows Azure SQL Database. See the “Membership” table that was synchronized over. Let’s do some test by running query against this database. There, I have all the data synchronized over! This tool is really very useful and in any case, I could easily synchronized data from my on-premises database and treat the Windows Azure SQL Database as a passive node.

Windows 8 X Leap Motion Challenge

Wed, 07 Aug 2013 10:43:18 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsO8x_UXTbE[/youtube] Good things are worth sharing! Following our challenge campaigns on Windows Phone - AR Drone and Windows Phone - Lumia, we are proud to bring you Leap Motion Challenge on Windows 8! This time round, we will be giving out 10 Leap Motion Controllers to Singapore developers. We are looking for great applications on the Windows 8 store which already works great with Keyboard & Mouse, even better with Touch and freaking awesome with a Leap Motion 3D sensor! Think in term of interactive stories, eye-hand coordination games, psychomotor skill challenges, 3D object modeling and manipulation, art and painting, instruments playing, music mixing and creation, and even more… Drop us an email at win8sg@Microsoft.com with your app idea. We will validate your idea and ship you one of these awesome devices once your application is published onto the Windows 8 Store. Join our community group on Facebook for more updates on Windows 8 related stories. FAQ (Updated as of 7th August 2013) Q. Can the application work only with Leap Motion device, and not with keyboard/mouse and touch? A. The store requires application to work smoothly with keyboard/mouse and touch experience. We ask that you think of ideas which would make this experience even better. Q. Can I use the leap motion device on a Surface RT? A. As of today, the device drivers for leap motion are written for x86 architecture and Mac operating system. We hope in near future there would be the leap motion controller would be compatible with default USB HID drivers. Q. If I wish to write a native x86 desktop application for leap motion, would I qualify for this challenge? A. Nope, we are specifically looking for Store applications for the challenge right now. But…… if you really have a world changing application (x86 desktop) that would be beneficial to a lot of users, sure! Do drop us an email, we would love to evaluate it. Q. Do I need the leap motion SDK or the physical sensor to develop for Windows 8 Store app? A. Nope. You do not need the sensor or the SDK to develop for a Windows 8 Store app. We recommend that you stick to the Windows 8 SDK. Dependencies on 3rd party SDK such as leap motion’s JavaScript or C# library might not pass Windows Store certification. Q. Can I loan the devices for testing? A. We have limited sets of giveaways, and wish to award them to developers in a new, unopened, unused condition. However we do have a 2 extra sets, which would require you to be physically present in our office for testing. Besides, we love to talk to developers like yourself :)

Rise of UI Frameworks

Sat, 03 Aug 2013 12:48:50 +0000

It’s no secret that there’s lots and lots going on in back-end web development these days. For instance, debates surrounding node and asynchronicity, have reached a fever pitch and have occasionally felt more like philosophical arguments than technical arguments. Similarly, there are a lot of things going on in the world of front-end development. There are tons of frameworks available to help you to build your websites or web apps, in terms of functionality and look and feel. In this particular post, UI frameworks will be our topic of interest. It was all pretty much started by Twitter Bootstrap. It has helped enable developers to whip up some quick templates for website or app without having to worry about getting involved in interface or app design. This will no doubt appeal to any seasoned web/app developer, as they could focus more on the functionality. Since then, more and more frameworks are emerging. As much as back-end developers can choose their preferred languages, e.g. PHP, Java, Ruby, Python, front-end developers have a variety of frameworks that they can utilise too. Before we go into the pros and cons of using a UI framework, let’s take a look of the features that UI frameworks offer in general.

Giveaway: Windows Store Starter Pack

Wed, 31 Jul 2013 14:24:52 +0000

Always wanted to build your own application and realize big ideas but never knew where to start? Well, here’s your chance! The friendly Windows 8 team at Microsoft has built a starter pack for the aspiring developer in you. In this pack, you will find: 1. Hands-on Labs (JavaScript & HTML / C# & XAML) 2. Windows 8 and 8.1 samples 3. 60+ Ready-to-use templates 4. Email consultations when writing your app 5. 1 on 1 consultation at Microsoft with our technical experts for feedback and revenue-growing tips on completion of your app 6. README file Email t-ciong@microsoft.com with your full name and receive your pack within 24hours. Students are also entitled to a free individual store account via the Microsoft DreamSpark programme. *For the purpose of app development, you will need to have Visual Studio installed. Get it free at http://bit.ly/13JIxLv. Visual Studio allows you to create Windows Store apps choosing between the languages of JavaScript, C#, Visual Basic and C++. You can even write components in one language and use them in an application written in another language

Go Local: Your app idea could win!

Mon, 29 Jul 2013 03:43:22 +0000

This National Day, we’re going local. Submit your Singaporean app ideas and you could walk away with a mystery gift! Every day at 12pm from 29 July 2013 (Monday) - 7 August 2013 (Wednesday), a theme will be released on the Microsoft College Connect Facebook page. You have until 3pm to submit your app idea. 3 simple steps to take part in the Go Local contest:

Think of an idea for a local app
Write 1-2 lines describing how you’d develop it.
Email your idea to t-ciong@microsoft.com

*This contest is only open to full-time students in Singapore

How You Unknowingly Helped Transcribe Over 40,000 E-Books

Thu, 25 Jul 2013 06:54:27 +0000

If you’ve ever signed up for a Facebook account or tried to change your password on Twitter, you would have encountered the odd distorted section of the online form which asks you to type in the words or numbers generated in an image. This little tool to distinguish a human from a bot is called CAPTCHA, or a Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. [caption id=“attachment_10404” align=“aligncenter” width=“358”] Taken from http://www.businessinsider.com/dont-type-and-9-other-awkward-and-hilarious-captchas-2011-3?op=1[/caption]

Halo: Spartan Assault now in Windows Stores

Sat, 20 Jul 2013 09:17:22 +0000

The Halo family just got bigger and better. Thursday at Comic-Con International: San Diego, Microsoft’s largest entertainment franchise, Halo, went mobile. The long-awaited “Halo: Spartan Assault” has finally been launched exclusively in the Windows and Widows Phone stores. “Halo: Spartan Assault” is a fully touch-enabled top-down shooter experience that you can bring with you anywhere and on any Windows 8 device. It was built entirely from scratch by 343 Industries in conjunction with Vanguard Games and made possible with the connectivity of the Windows platform. What this means – you can start on your game on your Windows 8 PC and continue with your Microsoft Surface while on-the-go. Waiting for a friend? Train got delayed? Queuing for Minion Kitties? Game on! [youtube width=“610” height=“343”]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx-MZVSajRs[/youtube] Storyline and Gameplay Events of “Halo: Spartan Assault” take place between “Halo 3” and “Halo 4”, and is based on the early missions of the Spartan-Ops program with plenty of backstory on the Human-Covenant war. Players choose between the roles of Commander Sarah Palme and Spartan Davis and battle their way through 25 action packed levels split across 5 different missions. Upping the level of excitement, “Halo: Spartan Assault” will further feature leaderboards, weekly challenges, difficulty modifiers and collectible in-game achievements. Fans of “Halo 4” – You’re in luck! You will be delighted to learn that XP gained playing “Halo: Spartan Assault” are transferrable and can help progress your “Halo 4” Spartan career. [caption id=“attachment_15081” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Stunning visuals and gameplay.[/caption]

Imagine Cup 2013 - Dream it. Build it. Live it.

Mon, 15 Jul 2013 11:09:08 +0000

For the 11th year running, some of the world’s most talented young minds have gathered to compete in the Imagine Cup with the one unchanging goal of using Microsoft’s technologies to address real #firstworldproblems and create a positive impact in the world. Students from Singapore were no different. Having found victory at the national stage after pulling countless all-nighters performing rounds of intense product testing and development, two student teams made it to the worldwide finals in St. Petersburg, Russia, representing Singapore in the Innovation and Windows Phone Categories. Four days of project showcase, pitching and a great deal of fun (judging from their photos) interacting with likeminded inventive and gifted individuals from all around the world later, our teams prepared themselves for the grand finale – the Awards Ceremony where they would find out if their projects had won a spot in the coveted top three positions. And guess what? Our Windows Phone Challenge team vSoft Studio consisting of three students from Nanyang Technological University emerged as WORLDWIDE CHAMPIONS! Read about their amazing team and app which captured the hearts of the judging panel here! Alas…our Innovation Challenge team EyeCanSee from NYP fell just short of the top glory but reserve every right to feel very honoured of the valiant effort they’ve put up and of what they have managed to achieve. Last month, in fact, they had a project showcase here in our Microsoft Auditorium which won over a crowd of over 200 techies many of whom left encouraged and inspired by their invention. Find out more about Team EyeCanSee and their Kinect Infantry Training System here! My Personal Thoughts I am extremely privileged to be amidst the tech scene where I witness first-hand the empowerment that has been achieved through technology. The advancement and understanding of digital technology has brought about many conveniences and helped countless underprivileged people move forward. And though it is true that there still exists many communities who have yet to benefit from the revolution; the good news is that technology is becoming increasingly accessible. Through initiatives such as Microsoft Citizenship, many more lives can and have been ameliorated. To me, the greatest success of the Microsoft Imagine Cup is not just in providing budding developers with an important and supportive platform for exploring their interests, or in providing them with the most professional mentorship and recommendations. Rather, what I find most noble about this competition is that it encourages them to do good, to think like a social entrepreneur, to pay-it-forward. With their strong inquisitiveness and aptitude coupled with the best technologies, one can only imagine what these youths will achieve with a few more years of experience and refining. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvhYZKnEk5Y[/youtube] The Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition. Over the past ten years, more than 1.65 million students from more than 190 countries have participated in the Imagine Cup where they are connected with other whip-smart creative from all over the world to share ideas, have fun, and be there when the next big thing is unveiled.

Migrating to Windows Server 2012 Training

Thu, 11 Jul 2013 10:01:24 +0000

One of the key challenges for IT Pros is always upgrade systems. With release of Windows Server 2012, many IT Pros are thinking about upgrading or prepared to upgrade. To help you better prepared for upgrade, My Australia fellow Evangelist Andrew McMurray and I produced a Migrating to Windows Server 2012 Training on Microsoft Virtual Academy. To access this FREE online course go to link below. It covers migration of varies functions and roles. We hope this helps you in your path to Windows Server 2012. Do rate our course, we will be doing more of these useful courses for you! http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/migrating-to-windows-server-2012-training

6 Ways To Market Your App

Wed, 10 Jul 2013 10:53:54 +0000

Perhaps you’ve recently developed an app you are incredibly proud of; the best you reckon. You sit back, heave a huge sigh of relief, and sip at your coffee feeling fully contented with your creation. “Any second now…the downloads are going to come in like WOAH” you think to yourself, thrilled and filled with anticipation. But reality is a cruel story. Several days pass before a few downloads start coming in. Then, as suddenly as they began, they quickly dwindled and died away. Unfortunately, it is quite often the case that an app needs to be marketed strategically in order to be successful. With over 100,000 apps in the marketplace, it is hard to stand out without a good marketing plan even if you have developed something truly revolutionary. So to help you get started, here are some tricks I think every developer should know:

Hackathon for Rwandan kids

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 22:15:42 +0000

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!

Windows Phone Challenge - Lumia 920 & Lumia 925

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 15:28:30 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8hap6jQJqk[/youtube] Updates Competition has ended. Results here at http://weshipcode.com/developers/winners-windows-phone-challenge-lumia-920-lumia-925/

Added challenge #9, #10 for Lumia 925
Added challenge #8, #8 for Lumia 920 and Lumia 925
Are there going to be challenges for the Lumia 1020 / Lumia EOS? Depending on the response for this challenge, we might run one (the next challenge) in near future when Lumia 1020 is available in Singapore market :)
Added challenge #7 for Lumia 925 (ERP Monitoring Application)
Please note for all speech recognition app, please support both English (united kingdom) and English (united states) Refer to FAQ on testing.

Following up from our previous challenge, we are teaming up with Nokia Singapore for the next Windows Phone Challenge! We will be awarding 10 Lumia 920s and 10 Lumia 925s for the challenges stated below! Do note that some of these ideas might be really hard to implement, but if you have a great idea, let us know and we’ll replace / place it in the challenge list below. Multiple developers can compete in the same idea. The best submission for each challenge will be awarded a Nokia Lumia. If you have questions or have an idea to suggest, drop us an email at win8sg@microsoft.com How do i join this challenge? 1. Join our community group on http://www.facebook.com/groups/apolloexplorer 2. Drop us an email at win8sg@microsoft.com and let us know which challenge(s) you are interested to work on. If you have a great idea, let us know and we will list it below. While you may work on multiple (or even all) ideas, we will be limiting the maximum prize an individual can get is limited to 3. 3. Publish an initial submission to the Windows Phone store before 9th August 2013, and attend a review in person on 9th August 2013 and enjoy the fireworks afterwards in Microsoft Singapore’s office. Registration link will be out soon. 4. Implement improvement from the review(s) and publish your revised version(s) before the deadline 31st August 2013. 5. Read the FAQ all the way below Nokia Lumia 920 Challenges 1. Singapore 4D/Toto result application with Push Notifications whenever the results are available. Live Tiles and Lockscreen capable of showing latest results. Voice command to launch application (“what’s the 4D/Toto/Lottery result today”), (“what’s the previous 4D/Toto/Lottery result”),(“what’s the 4D/Toto/Lottery result last week”), and speech synthesis should read out the results in Mandarin and English. Optional: Location Based Services to find the nearest betting stations Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 2. Address locator application with Live Tiles, Lock-screen and voice command. It will to let you know the civil/friendly address of “where you are”. Voice command for users to ask “where am i”, or “what’s the address of my current location”. The application will launch, read out the location you are and show the civic address (505 bukit panjang ring road)+map on the phone. Live tiles and Lock-screen will show on a periodic basis (using background task) current civic address + map of user. Developer(s) working on this idea : 3 3. Singapore Weather Application with Push Notification, Secondary Live Tiles, Lock-screen and Voice command. You maybe assume that users of this application will only be from Singapore. Voice command to launch application “will it rain today”, “will it rain tomorrow”, “will it rain next Monday”, “will it rain on 4th July”, “is it sunny today”, “is it cloudy today”, “what’s the weather for the next 3 days”, “what’s the weather for the next 5 days”, “what’s the weather for the week”. Application should response with voice and necessary weather information. Push notifications should be implemented for flood warnings, haze level, and rains + probability for subscribed areas. Example user can subscribe to office (raffles place), school (clementi) and home (bukit panjang) location for rain notification. Users can pin secondary live tiles of raffles place, clementi and bukit panjang to start screen. Users should have the option to display the weather information on their Lock-screen. Developer(s) working on this idea : 1 4. School planning application with Voice command, for parents to find out which primary/secondary schools are nearby for their child. After allowing users to set their home location via GPS/map selection/address/postal code, this application will be show nearby schools on the map control. The application will after which draw a transparent circle around the home location to show which schools are within the radius. Tapping the school on the map should launch the browser or show more information about the school. Voice command to launch application “what are the schools around 018989”, “what are the schools around me now”, “what are the schools around this area”, “what are the schools around 30 bedok north road”. Application to response with map and list of schools around user specified location. Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 5. Singapore Pools Soccer Betting Information with Push Notifications when results are out for user-specified soccer league, Voice command, Live Tiles and Lock-screen showing latest results. Voice command to launch application (“what’s the latest results for champions league”). Application read out results in English, and show the available results on screen. Secondary live tiles should show results of user-specified soccer league. Lock-screen should show the latest soccer results. Optional: Location Based Services to find the nearest betting stations. 6. CarPark lots availability application with Voice command, Secondary Live tiles, which shows a list of CarPark and lots. The application should have the capability of pinning specific CarPark secondary live tile showing the parking lots left. Voice command to query on specific CarPark lots left (“what is the available lots in marina bay sands”), with voice response (“there are 100 lots left in marina bay sands”). Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 7. Queue watch application for polyclinics in Singapore with Voice command and Secondary Live tiles. Users should be able to pin secondary live tiles of specified polyclinics to start screen, showing number of queue and waiting time. Lock-screen should allow users to display the number of patient and waiting time of specified clinic. Voice command to launch “how’s/what’s the queue at bedok polyclinic”. Application should read out number of queues, waiting time and display the live camera feed for bedok polyclinic. The list of polyclinic should be sorted by waiting time, and navigational directions should be given on how to transit to the selected polyclinic from current location. Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 8. Clinic finding application in Singapore. This application will list the clinics nearby or the entire list base on their affiliation. When working in companies, HR typically issues medical benefit cards to employees. Different medical benefit card requires you to visit different clinics. This application will show you the different type of benefit schemes, and the clinics/hospital/ Traditional Chinese Medicine Physician which you can visit. It should show information such as name, address, opening hours and contact number of the clinic. This application should also show the list (top 50) of nearby clinics on a map. Voice command should allow you to search for clinics base on name, or affiliations. 9. Open slot - drop us an email at win8sg@microsoft.com if you have an idea 10. Open slot - drop us an email at win8sg@microsoft.com if you have an idea Nokia Lumia 925 Challenges 1. Singapore taxi fare calculator with Voice command. This application will estimated price and suggest the route to take. Voice command to launch application (“how much does it cost to take a cab from changi to yishun”), (“how much does it cost to take a cab to changi airport”), (“how much does it cost to take a cab from 505 bukit panjang to 100 bedok north road). Application should read out amount and show the map + route on screen. Do include CBD, Peak hours, Airport, Midnight and ERP charges. Developer(s) working on this idea : 1 2. Singapore Movie Application to find out the vacancies of SG Cinemas for various movies. Voice command will be able to query “what is the availability of despicable me today”. The application should show the list of cinemas and the available number of seats in the cinema. Developer(s) working on this idea : 1 3. Internet radio for Singapore channels, with capabilities to pin secondary tiles for specific radio channels. Voice command to launch application (turn on the radio for class 95), and secondary tile allows launching of app directly to radio channel. Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 4. Voice command application to find commonly used / amenities around you, example AXS, ATM, SAM Machines, Convenient Store, Post Office, Supermarket, Police Station, MRT Stations etc…. Voice command to launch application “where is the nearest dbs atm”, and would show you the direction+map on how to get there. The list of amenities should be reliably accurate and recently updated. Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 5. Phone book application with Voice command, which searches Singapore’s directory for the contact number and dials the number for you. Voice command enabled and allows you to search by voice. Example “call OCBC, call ministry of manpower, call Macdonald’s delivery, call crystal jade Holland village”. It should show to source of the number (google.com, hungry go where, yellow pages or other sources) before attempting to dial the number. Developer(s) working on this idea : 6 6. Push notification, Secondary Live Tile and Lock-Screen application for Flights out of Singapore, it will send a push notification once the fare to the user once it drops below user’s specified price. The Lock-Screen should also be able to show/monitor a list of flights. The Secondary live tile should be able to show list of countries which fares are below a user specified threshold. The voice command will be able to query “what are the flights below $200”, “how much does it cost to fly to Kuala Lumpur” Developer(s) working on this idea : 1 7. ERP monitoring application for Singapore with Voice command and Secondary Live tiles. Users should be able to pin secondary live tiles of specified ERP gantry to lock-screen, showing the price of crossing the gantry for different vehicle at last tile scheduled update time. Voice command to launch “how much does it cost to cross (gantry abc) at 3pm on weekdays/weekends”. Application should response with speech, speaking and showing the price of different vehicles of the queried gantry at the queried timing (do take note of weekdays and weekend differences. Show/response with free/nocharge if ERP gantry is turned off for these voice queries. Developer(s) working on this idea : 1 8. Tertiary education application in Singapore. This application will list the cut of points for courses in the 4 universities and 5 polytechnic in Singapore. It should show the history of cut of points published by the school across the years and there should be official writeup on what the courses are about. It should show information such as name, address, contact number of the tertiary institute. The application should allow user to search for institutes and courses filtered by cut off points / grades for A/O Levels. You should also show the transportation, bus services and MRT stations around the institute. It would be great if there is multiple direct bus route coverage show on a map for the particular institute. Voice command should be able to launch the application, allow user to query the cut off point of specific course. It should show the results for both polytechnic and university. Example “eduapp, show me what is the cut off point for computer science.”, “eduapp, what is the cut off point for business administration” Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 9. Singapore Post Application - This application will help to find nearby post office and post box. This application will also calculate the cost associated with the weight/size of a parcel. The application must support package tracking of Singapore Post registered packages, and live tiles + Lock-Screen should show the progress of these packages. Optional: there would be a push notification sent to the user when the item is delivered. Developer(s) working on this idea : 1 10. Singapore MRT Application - This application will show the map of singapore’s metro / MRT stations. Users would be able to search for a specific station and the station should blink if there is a match. It will also help the user to find the shortest route from one station to another station. Information on the first and last train should be provided to the user. The application should also show various top point of interest near the MRT station. Voice command would be able the launch the application by saying “what are the interesting places around jurong east”, and the application should show a list of point of interest around this MRT station. Developer(s) working on this idea : 2 Frequently asked question FAQ Q. Who is eligible for this challenge? A. If you have a windows phone developer account which is tied to a Singapore live id, you are eligible for this competition. Do note that if you are residing outside of Singapore and wish to compete this online, we will not ship the prizes overseas. Do contact us at win8sg@microsoft.com and let us know in advance if you wish to participate remotely. Q. If I’m competing for all ideas, is it possible for me to win in all the challenges? A. We will restrict the maximum number of prizes to 3 for each developer account. Q. So what’s the maximum number of phones can I win? A. 3 phones for each developer. Q. Can I work with a team, or is this an individual challenge? A. Yes you may work in a team. Q. If I have a team of 20, do we get 20 phones if we produced the best application for one idea? A. No. 1 phone for each challenge. Q. If I have a team of 9, we submitted 9 best applications, do we get 9 phones? A. If you have 3 developer accounts, and you submit 3 applications per account, and if all your submissions are the best ideas, Yes. A. If you have 9 developer accounts, and you submit 1 application per account, and if all your submission are best ideas, YES! A. But, if you submit all 9 best applications using 1 developer account, you will get at max 3 phones. Q. Are existing applications upgraded counted for this challenge? A. Nope. You application has to be a net new application published after 8th July 2013. Q. I’m interested in this challenge, but I do not have a developer account. What can I do? A. After you are done with your 1st working version, drop us an email at win8sg@microsoft.com . We will provide you with a complementary token for the developer account registration. Q. Can I exchange Lumia 920/925 for other phones? A. No. Q. How are you going to judge the entries? A. We will compare the entries for each challenges. The best entry, which fulfills the minimum criteria above will be award the phone. On a case-by-case basis, if necessary, we would need you to improve on user experience and design before award on the phone. Q. Is design and UX important? A. Yes, please do put in effort on designing and planning for good user experience. Q. How do I know if my application (with speech capabilities) is supported for English (united kingdom) and English (united states)? A. After setting your “speech language” in “settings” -> “Speech” to “English (united kingdom)”, press and hold your windows phone’s “windows button”, click on the “?” button on the top right hand side, and look at the “apps” tab. Your application should be visible when “speech” is set either “English (United Kingdom)” and “English (United States)”.

Ideas for your Hackathon

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 05:48:20 +0000

Want to join the RACE TO 100 or any other hackathon but don’t have an idea? Here’s some inspiration for you:

1. Education

Campus News
Campus Confessionals
Lecture slots
Booking of meeting rooms
GPA calculator

2. News & Weather

Centralized Subscription Service (mobile, deals, news, memberships)
Breaking News
Weather Forecasts

3. Lifestyle and Relaxation

Nature Spots
Relax Guides (Spas, Massage)

4. Photo

Photo Sharing
Photography and quotes
Historic and cultural photography

5. Food & Dining

Recipes
Restaurant locator
Special Dietary Recommendations (i.e Vegetarian, Halal)

6. Health & Fitness

Gym guides
Nutrition guide / Food tracking
Calculators (BMI)
Health and medical information

Community events
Social Interaction

8. Transport

Public guides and news updates
Maps

9. Games and Entertainment

Games
Gamer Events and News
Entertainment News
TV and Movie guides

10. Others

Shopping guides
Sports updates
Music and Videos

Looking for some help and templates to get started? http://www.codeplex.com/site/users/view/win8templates and http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsapps/

PowerShell Saturday Singapore 01

Sat, 06 Jul 2013 13:17:11 +0000

Everyone, time to learn powershell together with your fellow IT Professionals. PowerShell Saturday is coming to Singapore! PowerShell Saturday is a full day event focusing on Windows PowerShell. The day consists of instructional sessions and a hackathon. Sessions Sessions include (but not yet finalised):

PowerShell for complete beginners
Problem Solving with PowerShell
Managing Lync with PowerShell
Managing Exchange with PowerShell
Managing Azure with PowerShell
Whats new in PowerShell version 4

Not all sessions may be of interest to you, but if you are between sessions we encourage you to spend time in the Hackathon room to work on your own stuff or try out what you have learned.

5 reasons to join a hackathon

Fri, 05 Jul 2013 09:12:19 +0000

Hackathons provide the perfect avenue for developers to explore big ideas, collaborate with other developers, and build something of value to the larger community. With our recent launch of the RACE TO 100 Contest, here are 5 reasons why you should join in the fun:

1) Learn and GROW

Learn and grow from building something cool with your own two hands. Wreck your brains in the creative process of profound thinking and execution that encourages further exploration of the platform putting what you know and what you don’t know into perspective. Find that “a-ha” moment that keeps your heart racing and adrenaline pumping as you inch closer to your goal of winning.

Event Categories

Fri, 05 Jul 2013 07:55:16 +0000

CONTENTS

Event Locations

Fri, 05 Jul 2013 07:55:16 +0000

CONTENTS

My Bookings

Fri, 05 Jul 2013 07:55:16 +0000

CONTENTS

Attend CTU 2013 and stand a chance to win a Surface Pro

Thu, 04 Jul 2013 15:13:15 +0000

Yes. Community Technology Update (CTU) 2013 is happening again on 27 July. It is organized by the Community Leads from various Singapore based User Groups and MVPs. It is a great technical events on technologies like BI, Lync, Exchange, Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2.

Follow the instructions in the URL to register - http://www.sgdotnet.org/Pages/Registration.aspx

Session Information

0830 - 0900

Registration

0900 - 0930

Key Note

Try out Visual Studio 2013 Preview... On the cloud!

Thu, 04 Jul 2013 07:34:39 +0000

Developers! Planning to try out Visual Studio 2013 Preview? But too lazy to download and install? Don’t worry! There is a easy way out for you! You can simply use your Windows Azure Account* and create a VM that comes pre-installed with VS2013 preview! Totally save your hassle to download and setup VS on your environment. * it’s ok if you don’t have an existing Azure Account, you can simply create a free trial account . So here’s the steps: Create a new virtual machine in the Azure’s Virtual Machines tab. Select Compute > Virtual Machine > From Gallery. There you go! you can create a instance VM image preinstalled with VS2013 Preview!

Free training on how to administer TFS 2012!

Wed, 03 Jul 2013 03:38:02 +0000

For those who are administration Team Foundation Server 2012 OR are planning to set up TFS2012 in your development environment, you may be interested in this. Microsoft Virtual Academy recently did an online training that covers 6 hours’ worth of detail coverage on TFS2012 administration. This is a super duper useful video, so be sure to check it out if you are currently managing TFS2012 or are planning to use TFS2012 for your development team! http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Administering-Visual-Studio-Team-Foundation-Server-2012

RACE TO 100 Hackathon

Wed, 03 Jul 2013 02:00:27 +0000

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.

Helping startups to build better companies with Microsoft Ventures

Wed, 26 Jun 2013 10:44:30 +0000

Today I am excited to help announce Microsoft Ventures, an initiative by the Startups team to unify all Microsoft startup activities under one umbrella. You can read more about it from the official statement by Rahul Sood, the GM of the Microsoft Ventures in the official MS Blog.

Microsoft Ventures is a coordinated global effort that offers the tools, resources, expertise and routes to market by providing mentorship, technology guidance, seed funding, joint selling opportunities and other benefits. Microsoft isn’t new to working with startups. Since 2008, more than 75,000 startups from over 100 countries have received access to tools and resources through the BizSpark program.

International Tokyo Toy Show 2013

Mon, 24 Jun 2013 05:30:50 +0000

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!

Deploying Team Foundation Server 2012 [Part 2 - Configuring TFS Site on SharePoint 2013]

Thu, 20 Jun 2013 08:17:17 +0000

Hi, this is the part two of the series of articles on Team Foundation Server 2012 and for today article, I am going to walk through the configuration of SharePoint 2013 to allow communication between the Team Foundation Server 2012 with SharePoint. During which, new SharePoint site will be created with the Team Foundation Project Template. So to recap from where we are previously, we have the following SharePoint Server installed (in my case, it is MTP-SPF01) and see the image showing the Central Administration of SharePoint Server 2013. In order for SharePoint to be able to communicate with the Team Foundation Server, it is a requirements to install the Team Foundation Server extension on every Web-Front End SharePoint Server. So if your intranet environment have a huge SharePoint farm that span across multiple Web-Front Ends, please install the Team Foundation Server Extension on EACH and EVERY Web-Front End. Step 1 - Installation of Team Foundation Server Extensions 1) Insert the ISO image / CD / DVD that you have used to installed Team Foundation Server 2012 into any of the SharePoint Web-Front End that you wish to install the extension. 2) This installation guide is rather simple, just follow through… 3) Click on “Start Wizard” 4) Click “Next” on the following page, it works the same as “Review”. 5) Once review has completed, click “Next” to kick-start the Validation process 6) **ERROR** Occur –> Why? and How? Read, it just require a reboot after installation. Well, this should have been placed in the setup guide before configuration starts. 7) Restart the configuration of the extensions 8) At this point of time, “Verification” will go through smoothly and click “Configure” to proceed. Take note this process will load certain Web Part Solutions into SharePoint to extend the capability of the various Team Foundation Server Project Template. 9) Configuration on SharePoint Server 2013 succeeded. Step 2 - Configuring Extensions for SharePoint Products 1) Grant access to Team Foundation Server on the SharePoint Server 2) Enter details such as URL of Team Foundation Server & select the available SharePoint Web-Application 3) **ERROR** –> Why? How? I got stumbled on this error for awhile and I have read through some other documents on access rights and configurations and finally narrowed down to maybe it is a DNS resolving issues. 4) Finally resolved it by changing “MTPSP01” to “MTPSP01.mtp.local” Step 3 - Configuring SharePoint Web Applications on Team Foundation Server For this step, we will navigate to the server hosting the Team Foundation Server (in my case, it will be MTPTFS01). 1) Click on “Add” and enter the details accordingly. 2) However, before I can carry on, I will need to ensure that my newly created Web-Application (in my case, http://mtpsp01/) does not have any Site Collection associated to it, therefore I will go ahead and create one. 3) Select “Team Foundation Server Project Portal” as the template for the Site Collection. Side-track a little, I always like the message included in SharePoint Server 2013 onwards! 4) After configuration is done, your screen should look like this or similar. 5) Next, we will need to further configure to make sure that there will be a new site collection being added automatically when there is a new project being created. Therefore, we will configure the “Default Site Location”. Click “SharePoint Site” to proceed. 6) Click on “Edit Default Site Location” to proceed. 7) Enter the details 8) Successfully modified the Default Site Location. Last Step - Verification of SharePoint TFS Project Template Site In my next post, I will be driving deeper into using the various common methodology. So stay tuned! Cheers, Milton Goh

Helping Rwanda move forward with technology

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:00:41 +0000

Hello World! It’s a different world out here. :) I’m currently in Rwanda, Africa, where I have a unique and meaningful opportunity to serve as a volunteer here. I work in Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, a healing place that house orphans and vulnerable youths (mostly affected by the Genocide in 1994 where 800,000 people lost their lives and 95,000 children left as orphans) and help them realize their maximum potential. These children have witnessed unspeakable violence as they saw the lost of their parents, and their country destroyed. I have been here for a couple of weeks now serving as an IT consultant. Unknown to many (even myself before I came), despite being one of the world’s poorest countries, Rwanda is actually very safe, and very similar to Singapore in many ways. Despite the lack of natural resources, both countries have its own strategic entrepot location. That said, Rwanda has a vision to be the “Singapore of Africa” in terms of being a high-tech hub. Part of my goal here is to help raise the IT knowledge of the locals. While in our world where we are exposed to and taught how to use computers at a very young age, many of the locals here have not used a computer until university or the start of their working life. Here, I was teaching a class of “Mamas”, who take care of “Family houses” in the village, how to use Microsoft Word and Excel to write their daily reports. Some of my other work scope involves helping the village obtain and sustain a Wifi & Internet connection using satellite dishes and Wireless Distribution Systems from towns some 20 km away, simply because it is too expensive to lay cables underground. I also plan to help them build an integrated Student Information System to track the youths before they come into the village, all their activities in the village & school, and ultimately how the students have changed or have been impacted after they graduate from here. Information Technology is an extremely important tool to empower Rwandans with, in order for them to recreate their nation. It enables the country to leap-frog the key stages of industrialization, and to remain competitive in the fast-paced world. Technology is slowly integrated into the people’s lives, in terms of how they communicate, pay for goods and services etc. Like Singapore, Rwanda’s most valuable resource is it’s people, and fortunately, the people and youths here are extremely friendly, inquisitive, and eager to learn. While Rwanda still has a long way to go, let’s not forget to help them along the way, and also to be appreciative of what we Singaporeans have today, in terms of our economic developments - due to our advances and use of Information Technology. Click here to see more photos and posts on my experiences in Rwanda.

Deploying Team Foundation Server 2012 [Part 1 - Installation and Configuration]

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:28:53 +0000

Hi Folks, I am Milton Goh, this is my first post on Spiffy.SG and I am bringing to all of you a series of posts with regards to Team Foundation Server. The series will generally focus on how Team Foundation Server (TFS) can help your organization deliver software projects using the Agile methods and also cover on how you can maximize your investment in deploying TFS comparing with other tools available. So for the first post, I will be detailing out how to deploy Team Foundation Server 2012 with Update 2 (this was released recently with some minor refinements). However, that updates shouldn’t affect you if this is your first time deploying TFS. In most environment, we can just deploy Team Foundation Server as a stand-alone server that serves the Developers for them to perform the compiling of source code or to perform various testing against the code that are flagged as ready for review. However, I am going to stretch a little further this time round to include deploying of SharePoint Server 2013 in order to fully illustrate how the team members (regardless whether it is Project Manager/Developers) can make use of SharePoint Team Project Site to view the various updates such as Project Timeline, Current Build Status and Outstanding Issues. In my environment, I have built the following Virtual Machines running on Hyper-V. Based on the image attached above, I am setting up the environment based on the following,-

Power yourself for BizSpark Night, join us for a fabulous night!

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:33:31 +0000

BizSpark Night aims to bring the startup community and industry investors together. There will be sharings on resources relevant to startups, such as Microsoft BizSpark, Windows Azure and our media partnership with TechinAsia. We also have in store an exciting panel discussion on entrepreneurship and pitching.

Power yourself for a night of

Date: 17th June 2013 Time: 630PM-930PM Venue: Microsoft Auditorium, Level 21

Agenda

6.30pm – Registration, Dinner / Networking 7.15pm – BizSpark Night Introduction: Joyce Huang, Microsoft BizSpark 7.30pm – Panel Session with Sequoia Companies: Brett from Bubble Motion, Shobhit from AdNear, Shashank from Deskera, Anant from Capillary – Yinglan as moderator. 8pm – Getting Your Startup Visible - BizSpark Collaboration with TechinAsia, Willis Wee, Founder, TechinAsia Panel Session with Sequoia-Backed Companies (Bubble Motion, AdNear, Deskera), moderated by Sequoia Capital Venture Partner, Tan Yinglan We are pleased to have Tan Yinglan, Venture Partner from Sequoia Capital and the executive teams from Sequoia-backed companies - Brett Bouchard (Chief Product Officer) from Bubble Motion, Shobhit Shukla (Vice President, APAC) from AdNear, Shashank Dixit (Chief Executive Officer) from Deskera share about building a sustainable business and fundraising in this region. Getting Your Startup Visible with Tech in Asia by Willis Wee, Founder, Tech In Asia Willis Wee, founder of Tech in Asia will be present to share about how to get your startups in to the top tech blogs in the region. Tech in Asia is an online technology news startup based in Asia, with team members all across the region. As a crew of journalists and bloggers with a passion for new ways of delivering news, we’ve bonded together under one goal - to create a great Asia-focused tech news site to tell the world about the wonderful thing that are happening here.

How to Network Boot Surface Pro to Install Corporate Image

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 05:46:57 +0000

Some of you might already got a Surface Pro device as it is now available in Singapore. If you are a good corporate citizen like me, the first thing you might want to do is to install corporate image on it to use for work. :) Traditionally to install network image on any PC, you will hit on the F12 Key during boot in order to network boot Surface Pro. Well, there is no F12 Key on Surface Pro Keyboard.

Windows Azure - Automating SharePoint Deployments using PowerShell

Fri, 31 May 2013 02:31:51 +0000

Previously I shared a script to Migrate SharePoint to Windows Azure IaaS. What if you want to deploy new SharePoint on Azure? Here is a sample script that allows you to do it quickly. This is created by Michael Washam, Senior Program Manager for Windows Azure. He did a blog post here about the script. Here is how it works How does this help me? If you need a sharepoint quickly for testing purpose before rolling out to production, you can leverage Azure and test out including any custom sharepoint Apps. After testing, you can move these VHD back to your on-premise datacenter and use this directly without requiring any other modifications.

A Sneak Peek into Windows 8.1

Mon, 27 May 2013 03:16:29 +0000

With Microsoft Build developer conference around the corner, more and more details about the update to Windows 8 began to surface. The update, now known as Windows 8.1 and formerly codenamed Windows Blue, will be previewed at Build conference in late June and available for general public later this year.

As confirmed by multiple Microsoft officers, Windows 8.1 update will be a free downloadable update and will provide “more options for businesses, and give consumers more options for work and play”. So let us round up the rumors and take a deep look at how Windows 8.1 could bring Microsoft’s modern OS to a higher level.

Echelon 2013 - Asia's Largest Tech Conference

Mon, 27 May 2013 02:34:12 +0000

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.

KE Trade SG jumps on the Windows bandwagon - App of the Week

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:50:04 +0000

App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! If you want to trade on the move, check out KE Trade SG app on the Windows store. The app is available on both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8.

TEDxTokyo 2013

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:00:27 +0000

Konnichiwa! Summer has finally arrived in Japan, and the new season marks an important event in my social calendar: TEDxTokyo 2013. Although I could not obtain tickets for the live event, I was able to attend the live public screening at Shibuya Hikarie 8/COURT. The theme for TEDxTokyo 2013 is ‘1+1=11’ which meant “don’t take things for granted”. The ideas that inspired us the most are usually the ones that challenge our common thinking. This is the spark that TEDxTokyo 2013 aims to inspire in all of us. Once the event venue was opened, everyone quickly found their best seats in the house to enjoy the interesting line-up of over 30 talks for the day. At 9am sharp, the presenter announced the opening of TEDxTokyo 2013, and the event kicked off with a spectacular display of classic Edo magic, known as tezuma, by Kohtaro Fujiyama. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu8Dla5rASU) As a pleasant surprise, members of the audience were encouraged to take to the stage and share their ideas during brief breaks between talks. One of my favorite talks of the day was by Gunter Pauli on “Catalyst, Innovation Driver and Blue Economist”. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKS_nZP8LMM) Gunter Pauli is a renowned serial entrepreneur, author and initiator of The Blue Economy. His notion of a Blue Economy and his radical entrepreneurial ideas embodied the event’s theme of challenging our common thinking. You can check out the following video which explains the concepts of the Blue Economy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1af08PSlaIs I would also recommend everyone to check out the great session by Gaunter Pauli in TEDxTaipei 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWauj7_hyWU I would like to congratulate TEDxTokyo team for organizing a great event. It was truly an inspiring day filled with great ideas and conversations with innovators and change agents. I enjoyed myself at the event and I am looking forward to the next TED event in Tokyo and Singapore. You can enjoy the videos for TEDxTokyo 2013 at their Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsRNoUx8w3rM-qjY05E1LorJK3hf2EEzK What do you think of the TEDxTokyo 2013? 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!

Celebrating Startups on BizSpark - Come check us out at WalkaboutSG

Tue, 14 May 2013 01:29:39 +0000

If you don’t already know, WalkaboutSG is happening this coming Friday from 12pm-5pm at the CBD area. We’ll be opening up the Microsoft Innovation Center and Microsoft Technology Center for you to find out more about the work we do together with startups and how we support innovation in the local software economy! We’ve got tonnes of free swag to give away, so if you’re coming by Raffles Place, remember to come to One Marina Boulevard! See you soon, Team Spiffy

We Live to Code Results released!

Sun, 12 May 2013 22:35:10 +0000

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!

Join us at Cloud Summit 2013!

Sun, 12 May 2013 19:40:04 +0000

Microsoft Cloud Summit 2013 offers breadth and depth of topics that will help your company get the most of your existing software investments. Learn how Microsoft can help you improve productivity and drive down costs, preparing you to better advise business decision makers on future technology investments. Date: 22 May 2013 Time: 9am - 5pm (registration starts from 8.30am) Venue: InterContinental Singapore Bugis Grand Ballrooms, Level 2, 80 Middle Road Singapore 188966 For enquiries, please contact Christine at Tel: 6296 7769 or email her. Why you should attend this event:

Setup Custom Domain Name for Windows Azure Websites or Services

Sun, 12 May 2013 17:41:28 +0000

I talked about few times about using Azure for Websites and Host Services like build Wordpress blog easily with Windows Azure Websites. Recently few people asked me how to create a custom domain name for the Azure Websites or the Services/Apps hosted on Azure. For example, take my blog as an example. When I created the my blog on Azure, it will give me a URL like http://ricqi.azurewebsites.net. It is not too bad, but it is a bit too long for me to promote my blog to everyone i meet. I do have a registered domain name http://ricqi.com. Ideally I would like to use that for my Azure hosted blog. There two detailed documents about this

'The Harvest' for Windows 8 is here - App of the Week

Thu, 09 May 2013 21:17:09 +0000

Join the Global Defense Force. Restore Earth to its rightful owners. Stop the Harvesters.

In a futuristic science fiction themed RPG, The Harvest has a game plot of hostile aliens out to turn Earth’s organic life into cyborgs. These aliens, known as The Harvesters, use humans and animals to create cyborgs. It is thus the player’s job to hinder the progress of The Harvesters. As a member of the Global Defense Force (GDF), you and your fellow freedom fighters have been deployed to various parts of the world to wage a war against The Harvesters in hope of restoring Earth to its rightful owners.

iCreate Mobility Challenge 2013

Tue, 07 May 2013 23:55:47 +0000

iCreate Mobility Challenge 2013 Come join the iCreate Mobility Challenge and bring your great idea and dreams to life! This year, we challenge you to unleash your skills and creativity to design a totally new cutting edge app experience that can enhance students’ experience at NUS to the next level. Winning entries will receive prominent recognition and great prizes. All participants who submit their apps will receive a certificate of participation and a token of appreciation. Certificates and tokens will be distributed during registration at the Awards Ceremony. The prizes for each of the categories are as follows*:

Pixaroll : Get your instagram sized photos printed and delivered to you on Windows Phone

Mon, 06 May 2013 18:30:08 +0000

A startup based in Singapore, Pixaroll is announcing that they are bringing photo printing/delivery service to Windows Phone platform! Unlike self-served printing from consumer photo printers, Pixaroll delivers top quality prints with accurate color reproduction by using professional printing machines with papers equivalent to photo labs. Here are some comparison. *Do note that the final prints are matte finish and digitized with a mobile phone, hence the differences in grains, contrast and exposure from their digital copy. They look almost identical to the digital copy in real life, I promise you. Pixaroll is capable of delivery not only 4" x 6", but 4" x 4" borderless prints which fits instagram’s photo form factor. Delivery in Singapore takes around 2 days, and 7 days for countries outside Singapore. The list of countries which Pixaroll currently ships are as follow

PowerShell script to migrate SharePoint to Azure IaaS

Mon, 06 May 2013 06:29:00 +0000

Recently at the Windows Azure Global Boot Camp, I talked about how to migrate sharepoint from on premise to Windows Azure Virtual Machines. Some of you reached out to me after the session for the scripts, so this article helps you to create that script.

Important: Do NOT copy the script blindly. You need to change some variables for you environment. Read through the script and optimize for your own environment. Tweet to me @richardqyc if you have any suggestions to make the script better :)

First thing first, download and install the Windows Azure Command Line Tools. After the Command Line Tools installed, prepare to get the Windows Azure subscription file publishing settings. Here is how to do it:

Channel Newsasia comes to Windows 8 - App of the Week

Thu, 02 May 2013 23:37:32 +0000

App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! Channel Newsasia has officially launched their Windows 8 app. To download the app, you can do so from the Windows Store. Some key features of the app include:

Office and Security

Wed, 01 May 2013 23:07:03 +0000

Here’s the final installment of #officethursday! This week, we will be talking about security in Office. So, wanna secure your documents? These tips are applicable to both Office 2010 and The New Office. Did you know that we often send/receive documents to our customers without ever thinking if the document that contains any personally identifiable information (PII.) This can cause damage to both the sender and receiver of the document. I’m sad to say that these kind of incidents has happened before, as can be seen in these real life examples: link and link How can we avoid this?

Azure IaaS - Deploy Tier1 Workload and Create VPN Connectivity

Wed, 01 May 2013 05:37:12 +0000

On April 16th 2013, the Windows Azure team has announced that Windows Azure Infrasructure Services ( Virtual Machines and Virtual Networks ) has been released for General Availability ( GA )! The local Azure User Group also held a Azure Global Boot Camp on 27th April.

New VM Sizes

There are two new VM size being released to support memory-hungry VMs on Windows Azure, such as SQL Server and SharePoint Server workloads,

Maintaining the Peak of Productivity

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Office Thursday this week shares on tips on how you can Organize your e-mails.I will be sharing about 3 Things**: Categories, Searching Effectively, Mail to Task** CATEGORIES Why do it? Sort out e-mails that needs your immediate actions based on their categories.

With Categories, I am able to sort out important e-mails that needs my immediate attention and I can easily filter out e-mails that I can read at a later time. Example:

Windows 8 Design Handbook by Ratio

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:38:27 +0000

Ratio Interactive has published a new Windows 8 Design Handbook, a handy reference to those trying to design and style their app to match the design guidelines for Windows 8. The guide covers the following:-

Understanding Live Tiles
Choosing a Live Tile
Designing a Splash Page
Designing a Hub Page
Key Windows 8 Terminologies
Utilizing Semantic Zoom
Mastering the App Bar
Designing the Detail Page
Interpreting the Design Language

[vimeo width=“610” height=“345”]http://vimeo.com/52177075[/vimeo] Ratio Interactive goes in-depth in describing all the small details that make up the User Interface on Windows 8, from what Font to use to how to make your app engage your audience. They also have an “Inspiration Gallery” of well-designed apps that you can take a gander at and some pretty darn good Photoshop and Fireworks templates you can download to help with wireframing. It’s worth having as a bookmark and something to refer to when designing or updating your next Windows 8 app. Check it out here at the aptly named windows8designhandbook.com.

Windows Phone 8 Challenge : "AR Drone 2" 1st Release

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:46:32 +0000

Remember our Windows Phone 8 Challenge Post 2 weeks ago? From the same developers who created Group Tiles and Speak Reminder, vSoft Studio have created an awesome application named “AR Drone 2” controller on the Windows Phone platform! Here are some of the amazing features this application has currently incorporated.

Basic navigations of taking off, landing, moving around and rotating
Compass, HUD, altitude, horizontal levels and battery level readout
Text-to-speech capabilities when launching, landing and playing of animations
Voice control for taking off and landing of AR Drone.
Animations - These are pre-programmed stunt procedures which you can command your AR Drone to execute. The highlight includes a flip animation (refer to video below) of the AR Drone.
Map and GPS Coordinates (Work in progress)
Video Feed (Work in progress)

Here are some screenshots of the application Here’s a video of it in action Download the app here! Alternative, scan the QR code on your Windows Phone http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=5a63f352-9022-4af4-b32c-a44c33bacaad

App of the Week - Fly iChangi

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 21:00:08 +0000

Find details of your flight or check the status of your or your friend’s flights!
Keep yourself updated with the highlights of Changi Airport to get the best deals! Furthermore, more information on shops, dining, and attractions at Changi Airport are also available!

Don’t miss out on the convenience iChangi app brings you! :)

Do we still need collaboration tool (e.g. TFS) for our Agile team

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:46:23 +0000

If you have read the Agile Manifesto clearly, they state that “we value Individuals and interactions over processes and tools”. Does that mean that tools is not required for a Agile team? Think about it, given the complexity of the modern world, do you think it is possible to ignore things like Audit/compliance, distributed team? Hence, there is still need for tools to compliment a agile dev team to make them even more agile. My stand? Continue to focus on interaction, but use tools (like TFS) to assist and faciliate the interaction. My analogy: A productive team is like a champion RPG game character. agile is the reflection of your “skills” and VS-TFS is the “legendary weapon”. You can be fantastic in your skill only and hold a regular weapon, but you can never win someone who is fantastic in their skill and holding a legendary weapon that compliments their skills. Check out the following article that addresses this topic :) http://toolsforagile.com/blog/archives/795/do-you-really-need-an-agile-tool

Hidden Gems on Microsoft Word

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:39:34 +0000

DID YOU KNOW most people only use less than 20% of all the features in Office?Wonderful world of WORD 2013When was the last time that you use Word? Yesterday, a few minutes ago? then… let me rephrase that question, when was the last time that you use Word to actually create a beautiful and impactful document? Hidden Gem #1: Styles Use Styles to quickly achieve the proper formatting that you want for your message. You can change an entire paragraph from a Header type format to Quote type format in an instant! If the readily available styles are not enough for your need, you can activate the hidden styles by expanding the styles list by clicking on the expand button (marked green) then clicking on the Manage Styles button After activating this button, the Manage Styles option will appear. In this option you can activate the styles that you need Hidden Gem # 2: Drop Caps Drop caps gives you a professional looking document by creating a capitalized letter at the beginning of the document. To use it. Go to Insert > Go to the Text section > Click on Drop Cap Hidden Gem #3: Translator If you are writing a document that will be sent to people overseas, you can use the built-in Translator function in Word to translate your entire document to a different language. Go to the Review > Translate I’ve converted a phrase from English to Chinese (PRC) ??????????????? ? I then converted the same phrase to French and this is what I got: Si vous lisez ceci, en Chine, alors comment allez-vous ! Not only can it translate text for you but if you activate the 3rd feature in the Translate Option (Mini Translator,) you can even have Word 2013 say those words out loud to you. Hidden Gem #4: Protect Document Since Word 2013 can now open PDFs, saving it to a PDF file can no longer be your “go to” solution for protecting documents from being “Pirated.” Use the built-in security within Office, Protect Document. Go to File > Protect Document. The options Encrypt with Password, Restrict Editing & Restrict Access will work for you and your recipient even if they do not have our Rights Management Service (RMS.) This is a quick and easy way to ensure that you documents stay protected from unscrupulous hands. Quick tip: You can also add a Custom watermark in your document before protecting it, to add an additional layer of protection for your work. Hidden Gem #5: Screenshot and Screen Clipping Add screenshot and screen clippings directly to you document without using the Windows Snipping tool or MS Paint. This works on all the Office applications (even Outlook.) Go to Insert > Screenshot. The tool will present to you the open running applications in your screen and then you can paste it to where you want it to go.

Microsoft PFE TechNet Day :: Windows To Go – Mobility Redefined

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:23:20 +0000

Microsoft PFE TechNet Day :: Windows To Go – Mobility Redefined Date: 27th March 2013 Topic: Windows To Go – Mobility Redefined! Speaker: Amit Ghodke (Microsoft PFE) Session Synopsis: “With Windows 8 we are redefining workforce mobility by introducing a new feature called Windows To Go, that enables enterprises to provide users a managed corporate environment on a USB drive that they can operate from multiple managed or unmanaged PCs , it offer’s new possibilities in mobile productivity through hosting an entire corporate image on a USB device and booting from any Windows capable hardware Please join us to learn more and get in-depth information about the core enterprise scenarios of Windows To Go and core capabilities that makes it secure, easy to use and manageable.” Topics Covered:- • Flexible Work styles • Windows To Go Your Portable Work style • Cost Effective and Lightweight Solution • Secure: Protects Corporate Data • Secure: Prevents Data Leakage • Easy To Use: Enabling Boot from USB • Easy To Use: Full fidelity experience • Easy To Use: Redefine Mobility • Other differences • Windows To Go Certified Drives • Easy To Use: Resilient to unintended removal • Deployment :- Deployment Scenarios • Deployment : Centrally Managed and Deployed Manageable: Use your existing infrastructure • Evaluation: Self Provision with the Creator Tool • How Windows To Go Works in Summary • FAQ Please refer to the below links for further details on the topics. Windows To Go: Feature Overview http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831833.aspx Windows To Go: Frequently Asked Questions http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj592680.aspx Prepare Your Organization for Windows To Go http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj592678.aspx Deployment Considerations for Windows To Go http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj592685.aspx Security and Data Protection Considerations for Windows To Go http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj592679.aspx Best Practice Recommendations for Windows To Go http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj592681.aspx

For better online meeting experience with Lync

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 23:39:13 +0000

Spiffy now brings to you weekly posts on Microsoft Office. If you haven’t, it’s time to learn something new about our favorite and most used productivity tool, Microsoft Office! This week’s article will be on how to have better online meeting experience using Lync.

A Better Lync conferencing experience.Use Meeting OptionsHow many times have we encountered a meeting where we had to manually turn off an attendees video because it was accidentally triggered or someone clicked on the “take presenter” option and caused utter chaos? **In Lync you can control your meeting experience even before the meeting starts!**I’m pretty sure that everybody knows how to properly create a Lync meeting, If you don’t know how, please refer to my screenshot.Click on Home > New Items > Lync Me****eting In Lync, you have the ability to set the level of experience that you want through the Lync meeting options. Click on the Meeting Tab > Meeting Options This option allows you control permissions in your meeting. This is only applicable If you are hosting the meeting. By clicking on the first option “A new meeting space (I control permission)” you will be able to access the other options. As a best practice, please use these following settings: Important! If you will have a meeting with someone that is outside of your country, change your Phone setting to the locale of your recipient. In this way, they will be presented with the local number available their country that they can dial in the e-mail invitation.

Live to Code, Fight the Night!

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 05:13:15 +0000

Yesterday marked the end of our overnight We Live to Code hackathon hackathon in Microsoft office! This year, the hackathon was held in collaboration with Samsung Singapore and we hosted about eighty participants and 20 teams pitched their ideas on the final pitching session on Sunday, 7th April. The series of events in We Live to Code started on 5th April night, where participants came to pitch their ideas, network and find potential team mates to work with. Various interesting ideas were pitched and we were delighted to witness the creative juices of our participants. As the night wrapped up, the participants headed home to prepare for an early morning the next day. 6th April morning marked the start of the overnight hackathon! This year, we had exciting activities in store for the participants as well! There were sharings by Windows 8 developers on their app development journey.

Windows Phone 8 Challenge - AR Drone and Canon Selphy CP900

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:40:40 +0000

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mo8yzeadjKY[/youtube]

The Windows Phone 8 Challenge is a series of challenges we have inline for developers from today until the end of June 2013. We’re going to give out the following:

2 sets of Lumia 920 + AR Drone 2.0 to 2 developers who are able to deliver applications which controls the AR Drone from Windows Phone 2 sets of Lumia 920 + Canon Selphy CP900 to 2 developers who are able to deliver applications which prints to the Canon Selphy from Windows Phone

Microsoft PFE TechNet Day :: Is your AD Healthy today?

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:11:43 +0000

Date: 27th March 2013 Topic: Is your AD Healthy today? Speaker: Chen Fui Lam (Microsoft PFE) Session Synopsis: Is your Active Directory healthy today? Active Directory forms the backbone of your IT infrastructure. A healthy and optimized Active Directory is cruical to the smooth and efficient operations of your enterprise. Topic discussed: 1. AD Health Monitoring 2. Command and Tools Below are the command lines used during the session; Repadmin /viewlist * Repadmin /showrepl Repadmin /showrepl * /csv Repadmin /replsummary Repadmin /experthelp =========================================================== Nltest /dsgetdc:contoso Nltest /dsgetsite Nltest /dclist:contoso Nltest /domain_trusts #### domain.msc to show the trusts =========================================================== Get-Command -Module ActiveDirectory (Get-Command -Module ActiveDirectory).count Get-ADForest Get-ADDomain Get-ADDomainController -filter * Get-ADDefaultDomainPasswordPolicy #### same time run net accounts on cmd Get-ADObject -Identity “cn=domain admins,cn=users,dc=contoso,dc=com” -server “dc2-2012-f.contoso.com” Get-ADReplicationConnection -filter * #### open dssite.msc, show the CO DN Get-ADReplicationFailure -Target “contoso.com” -Scope Forest #### scope can be set to domain as well Get-ADReplicationFailure dc2-2012-f Get-ADReplicationSite -Filter * | ft name,objectclass Get-ADDomainController -filter * | ft hostname,site Get-ADReplicationUpToDatenessVectorTable * | sort partner,server | ft partner,server,usnfilter Get-ADReplicationAttributeMetadata -object “cn=domain admins,cn=users,dc=contoso,dc=com” -server dc2-2012-f.contoso.com -showalllinkedvalues | format-list #### Repadmin /showobjmeta dc2-2012-f.contoso.com “cn=domain admins,cn=users,dc=contoso,dc=com” Get-BpaModel #### To list installed BPA on the machine Invoke-BpaModel Get-BpaResult ============================================================================ Sonar.exe ntfrsutl.exe FRSDiag DFSRDiag ============================================================================ Ping Nslookup DNSLint /ad 10.0.0.101 s/10.0.0.102 DNSCMD /info DNSCMD /ZoneInfo contoso.com DNSCMD /zoneprint contoso.com DNSCMD /statistics DCDiag /s:dc1-2008r2-c /test:dns /v Get-DnsServerSetting Get-DnsServer -ComputerName “dc1-2008r2-c” Get-DnsServer -ComputerName “dc2-2012-f” #### highlight the scavenging & zone info Get-DnsServerResourceRecord -ZoneName “contoso.com” -RRType “SRV” Get-DnsServerResourceRecord -ZoneName “contoso.com” -RRType “NS” Get-DnsServerResourceRecord -ZoneName “contoso.com” -RRType “A” Get-DnsServerResourceRecord -ZoneName “_msdcs.contoso.com” -RRType “CName” Test-DnsServer -IPAddress “10.0.0.101” -ZoneName “contoso.com” Get-BpaModel #### To list installed BPA on the machine Invoke-BpaModel Get-BpaResult ========================================================================= DCDiag /s:dc1-2008r2-c w32tm /monitor w32tm /stripchart /computer:dc2-2012-f w32tm /resync w32tm /unregister mbsacli /target dc1-2008r2-c ==========================================================================

Microsoft PFE TechNet Day :: Hyper-V Replica - Disaster Recovery

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:35:27 +0000

Date: 27th March 2013 Topic: Hyper-V Replica - Disaster Recovery Speaker: Chen Fui Lam (Microsoft PFE) Session Synopsis: One of the most promising new features in Microsoft Hyper-V 3.0 is the ability to create virtual machine replicas, which can create new opportunities for Disaster Recovery. The Hyper-V Replica feature makes copies of individual virtual machines (VMs) on alternate Hyper-V servers, either on-premises or off-site. In the event of a catastrophic loss of a host server, VM replicas can be used to ensure business continuity. In this session, we will discuss the technical details surrounding Hyper-V Replica deployment and management. Topic discussed: 1. How to leverage Hyper-V Replica as Disaster Recovery 2. Difference types of failover - Test Failover, Planned Failover and Unplanned Failover For more information on above

Microsoft PFE TechNet Day :: SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:02:54 +0000

Date: 27th March 2013 Topic: SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn! Speaker: Harminder Singh Sethi (Microsoft PFE) Session Synopsis: SQL Server AlwaysOn is the new comprehensive high availability and disaster recovery solution in SQL Server 2012. Using AlwaysOn, you can increase application availability and get a better return on your hardware investments through a simplified high availability (HA) deployment and management experience. SQL Server AlwaysOn provides availability at either the application database or instance level. Topics discussed: 1) HA & DR solutions available in SQL Server 2008 R2 & before

Gear up for Build 2013!

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:54:58 +0000

Build 2013, is taking place June 26-28, 2013 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. Registration opens at 9:00 AM PDT on Tuesday April 2, 2013 at http://buildwindows.com At Build, we’ll share updates and talk about what’s next for Windows, Windows Server, Windows Azure, Visual Studio, and more. It is the event for developers to get a first look at what’s next from Microsoft. Build 2013 will happen at a larger scale but grab your tickets quick before they run out! Also, sharing a quick tip with you guys, you might need to take note of your country’s time zone variations! Tickets will be sold at $2,095 (US) each, but first 500 early birds will get their tickets at $1,595 (US). Don’t miss out this awesome opportunity to be part of Build 2013!

Ready, Get Set, Go! Ride F1 fever with us!

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:11:10 +0000

The excitement has reached fever pitch as the five red lights are activated for the first time to kick-off the 2013 Formula 1 season. Rev up your phones, tablets and PCs to stay up-to-date with all things Formula 1 using your Windows devices. For fans of the prancing horse we have the Official Ferrari Magazine App, in addition to a range of apps that cover live races, commentary, news and all the stats from your favorite teams and drivers. You’ll want to get these hot apps for your Windows 8 and Windows Phone to get geared up for all the racing action! After the checkered flag, you can get behind the wheel with a great selection of racing games. Unique to Windows, you can connect through Xbox Live to get driving, and pit yourself against friends on the leaderboard Here are some apps specially picked for F1 fans!

Agile Software Development Briefing

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:36:34 +0000

Event Date:

31st July 2013, Wednesday

Time:

8.30am – 1.00p.m

Venue:

One Marina Boulevard, Microsoft Office, Level 22 Singapore 018989

Target Audience:

Business Decision Makers

For registration & enquiries, please contact Ying a-yilim@microsoft.com or Helen Helen@swap.com.sg

We would like to invite you for this exclusive briefing on Agile Software Developmentand learn some of the best practices of Agile methodology and see how you could leverage the capabilities in Microsoft Visual Studio Solution to automate these practices in your team.The adoption of Agile software development is increasing as organizations are striving to achieve success across their project portfolios. According to a recent survey by Thought Works, most organizations following the Agile methodology experienced significantly faster time-to-market of 68%, with 68% more adaptability to changing requirements from clients and improved IT productivity and quality, which led to a better ROI of 60%, and an increased project visibility of 60%.

Windows Azure Active Directory Delivers single sign-on (SSO) for Cloud Services

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 03:11:48 +0000

Well, there are a lot of great Cloud Services out there that organization can leverage today. Two typical examples are Office 365 and Windows Intune. Both are great public cloud services that can bring huge benefits to different business. While using these services, you would want to provide a Single Sign-On (SSO) experience to the end users. That is where Windows Azure Active Directory comes in. Windows Azure Active Directory allows you to deliver that SSO experience for Cloud Services. Below diagram illustrates how Windows Azure AD helps to integrate into different Cloud Services. Here comes the fun part, how to configure the AD to integrate with Windows Azure Active Directory ? Below diagram illustrates the architecture of setting up a single forest integration. It looks simple. When you get your hands dirty, you will notice it is not that straight forward to configure this. Luckily one of our fellow Evangelist David Tesar created a step by step guide and most importantly a PowerShell script to configure this from Zero to end state. The step by step deployment guide can be found at http://aka.ms/AD2AAD PowerShell scripts to configure this end to end http://aka.ms/AD2AAD-PS

Developers' Pain Killer - OneCode

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:23:07 +0000

Releasing the new Sample Browser app OneCode Sample Browser 1.0 for Windows 8 and Windows RT was released globally in the Windows Store during the week of 2013 MVP Global Summit. It is a new relaxing way for Developers to search, download, learn, request and share thousands of code samples on any Windows 8 or Windows RT device! Developers love code samples, the Sample Browser Windows Store app can provide them with mobile agility while they develop their app. The Sample Browser Windows Store app is supported in both online and offline mode. Thus, making it easy to find and share code samples. Now, bringing you the spotlight features of Sample Browser Windows Store app! Fast sample search: you simply swipe and search. It is fast and direct. Free search conditions: you can filter samples by Visual Studio version, contributor, programming language, technology and update time. You can also sort the sample search results by relevance, popularity, release date, download count, ratings, title and author. You have full control of how you want to search for code samples. Big sample repository: the Sample Browser searches 5000+ code samples in MSDN Samples Gallery, including 400+ official Windows 8 samples, 300+ Windows Phone samples, and 1200+ Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework samples. The sample repository is ever growing. What if I cannot find the sample that I’m looking for? The Sample Browser is integrated with the Sample Request Service provided by the All-In-One Code Framework team. Developers are encouraged to submit code sample requests dealing with any Microsoft development technologies and any programming languages to the MSDN Sample Request Forum (http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/site/requests). At the same time, Developers can vote for newly submitted or existing code sample topics. Here’s the exciting part! In this active Developer community, your code request may be quickly resolved by the strong MVPs and other community members. Microsoft engineers will also pick the requests with high number of votes and provide the code samples, free of charge. Code is at hand: downloading the sample code, reading the documentation, browsing source code, searching inside the project – all of these can be done with one simple touch. You can get your “hands” on 5000 code samples. (read sample documentation) (browse source code) (search inside the project) Anytime, anywhere: Whether you have internet access or not, whether you are at home, in office, or in commute/airplane, you can learn your downloaded sample code anytime, anywhere. Swipe and share. It’s that easy! Do you want to share a code snippet? Select the code snippet: Swipe: And share! It’s that easy! The team is releasing a new version of the Sample Browser Windows Store app every few weeks. Your feedback will change it for the better. Please email us at onecode@microsoft.com. Hope the introduction of Sample Browser Windows Store app cured your headache, developers! :)

ALM, TFS, Agile, Scrum and Visual Studio posts on Spiffy!

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:46:22 +0000

Hey Developers, Business Analyst, Team leaders, project managers and testers listen up! We are going to pump in new content into Spiffy on the following topics that will interest you!

Application lifecycle management (ALM) (What is this huh?)
Team foundation server (TFS) (and this?)
SCRUM methodology (SCRUM?)
Visual Studio (i bet you know what this is)

So keep a look out in Spiffy for these new content! First start! I am going to introduce you guys to a interesting Windows 8 store app that can give you a clear guide to ALM, and build you up to a ALM expert! Don’t have a single clue on what ALM or TFS is? No problem! Just try it out! Here’s the download link for the app :) http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-US/app/alm-readiness-treasure-map/98782e69-ba79-4ab9-890a-44139fa8cd7f CY

Imagine Cup 2013 Semi-final results

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 08:30:22 +0000

A big thank you to all the incredible students who took part in the local semi-finals of Imagine Cup 2013! From solving issues of dementia, sign language and many more important problems by the world, we were deeply impressed by the creativity and passion displayed by all of you. We are in the midst of shortlisting the finalists for the local finals and will reveal them shortly - stay tuned!

Microsoft powers National University of Singapore’s big data journey with SQL Server 2012

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:31:16 +0000

Microsoft has today announced the successful deployment of SQL Server 2012 with the National University of Singapore (NUS), a leading global university in Asia. The University has chosen SQL Server 2012 for its combination of power features, cloud readiness and ease-of-use in creating business insights from large amount of data. “Organizations such as NUS are making the leap forward in embracing big data,” said John Fernandes, Chief Marketing & Operations Officer, Microsoft Singapore. “Microsoft’s rich set of information tools can help organizations report, analyze and predict insights from all types of data, giving them a competitive edge in a new world where consumer expectations are ever growing, while pressures to constantly reduce operational expenditures is real.” Completed in December 2012, this big data deployment has already enabled NUS to capture real-time analytics to improve the user experience of its online learning management system, Integrated Virtual Learning Environment (IVLE). Developed and maintained by NUS’ Centre for Instructional Technology (CIT), IVLE hosts 90 percent of all academic modules offered in NUS and is accessed by most of its 37,000 student cohort on a daily basis. The portal provides students with one-click access to learning tools such as discussion forums, chat rooms, and file hosting. To ensure top-notch user experience of its online learning portal, CIT has invested heavily in man-hours since 2010 to dig deeper into terabytes of data to understand the user habits of a diverse set of students using IVLE. Questions such as how students access IVLE, peak traffic periods, popularity of features and functions are all important insights in understanding consumption behaviors. The labor intensive task in generating insights involved analyzing web traffic data, log-in information, and student profiles to gleam useable insights. Jeffery Tay, Associate Director of CIT, NUS, said: “To stay relevant and fresh to our diverse set of students, we needed to constantly evolve and improve the user experience of our online learning portal. In analyzing large sets of data about user behaviors, we were faced with the challenge of consolidating different sets of structured and unstructured data; and uncertainties in the accuracy of insights gathered.” Mastering Big Data Microsoft SQL Server 2012 is a cloud-ready information platform that enables organizations to unlock breakthrough insights across different operations, as well as quickly build solutions to extend data across on-premises and public cloud infrastructure. NUS has chosen Microsoft’s SQL Server 2012 Enterprise Edition, particularly for its Power View feature where it can provide an interactive browser-based data virtualization and presentation experience for all levels of users. Tay added: “Microsoft SQL Server’s produces significantly more accurate datasets and provides better insights. More importantly, we were able to speed up the data analysis process by as much as 50 percent. The insights gleaned from such trends and patterns went a long way in helping IVLE designers stay on the forefront of development, creating a learning experience that is personalized and tailored to each individual student." For example, CIT noticed an increasing number of students accessing IVLE through mobile devices. As a result, it spearheaded a program to create mobile apps and encouraged NUS students to create their own unique apps (icreate.nus.edu.sg) that tap into IVLE’s versatile platform. As CIT continues to keep an eye on data analytics and provide constant feature updates to IVLE, for the university at large, making sense of student learning habits and patterns is only the beginning. NUS intends to add a wider range of data to its fast-growing pool. For example, with sufficient data, the crowd at the university’s busy canteens can be mapped and analyzed for insights into crowd-control strategies.

Want free Windows Azure training? Here's a deal!

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 09:11:17 +0000

Hey fellow dev-teams! Planning to build apps on the Azure Cloud? Expanding your dev-team and need more copies of Visual Studio & MSDN subscription? Here’s an awesome deal for you! You can buy 2 Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2012 with MSDN, the right choice for building multi-tier applications for the web, cloud, devices and receive a FREE 1 day Windows Azure “Developing and Deploying your Application to The Cloud” Hands-On-Lab Training from Microsoft CPLS. Wondering what will be lining up for the training? Training schedule (subject to change)

Windows Office 365 Japan Launch

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 06:29:30 +0000

Konnichiwa! It has been a while since my last post in Spiffy due to my hectic schedule for my Tokyo MBA program. Fortunately, I was able to take a short break from my studies when I was kindly invited to attend the Tokyo product launch for Microsoft Office 365. Here’s a brief account of my adventure at the product launch. It was a sunny Friday afternoon and I was so excited about the product launch that I arrived an hour early at the event venue, ????????. The event was held at the 3rd floor of the building. The tone of the event was noticeably more solemn than the ones that I have attended in Singapore. Everyone was quietly waiting outside the room for the event. When the doors opened, everyone lined up neatly and quietly, and slowly registered their names before taking a seat. At 5pm sharp, the event started and the presenter took to the stage to introduce the topics that will be covered for the presentation. The speaker highlighted the main new features of Office 365, and how it will benefit small and medium enterprises. Some of the features in Office 365 that was covered in the event included Excel

No Instagram? That's alright.

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:22:17 +0000

Looking for imaging apps on Windows Phone 8 to beautify photos or just wanna have a little fun?

Windows Phone has photography apps for various purposes, so check them out, if you haven’t. Here’s a little preview to imaging apps on Windows Phone 8.

FHOTOROOM - Is a pro camera, photo sharing network and professional mobile photo editor. Our Pro Camera is focused on achieving the absolutely best results that your camera can produce. Utilizing technology like our custom EV (Auto Exposure), Grid and Level all come together to extend the ability of your camera. Our photo sharing network allows uses to show off their photos with our very fast growing community.

Twitter comes to Windows 8 - App of the Week

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:39:02 +0000

A little blue bird has landed on your Windows 8 device!

Earlier today, it was announced on the Twitter blog and Windows Experience blog that Twitter is here on Windows 8.

TechNet PFE Speakers Profile

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:56:54 +0000

Speaker Name

Speaker Profile

Chen Fui

Chen Fui Lam has been with Microsoft Premier Field Engineering since 2003 and started off with Microsoft NT4 Directory Services till today, Active Directory 2012. As part of Microsoft Premier Field Engineering, he has vast exposures support, deployment, migration and various setup of Directory Services across Southeast Asia ranging from 2 DCs setup to 600+ DCs setup. He is also an Active Directory Risk Assessment Program Asia Lead since 2007 and serve as trusted technical advisor on Active Directory for many enterprises in Southeast Asia region.

Microsoft releases WP Dev Center app for Windows Phone

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 06:42:30 +0000

Microsoft has just published a Dev Center app for Windows Phone which helps developers monitor their apps in the Windows Phone Dev Center. A plethora of information is available, including downloads, reviews, details, and crashes.

The information is provided in an extremely easy to read and simple format, with important information brought out front and foremost with highlights to mark them. Graphs are available just like in the web version of the Dev Center which help developers get lots of information at a glance. The app is still considered to be in preview stage but looks pretty complete. Check it out here.

The New Office: Garage Series for IT Pro

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 10:28:34 +0000

Well, I always like Geek TV Shows like Top Gear. Together with Commerical Release of Office, here is a fantastic Microsoft produced weekly Geek TV show called The New Office Garage Series for IT Pro. Who said we cloud not have fun while learning technology!! Every Wednesday (Singapore Time Thursday) from 27th Feb, Jeremy and Yoni will talk about what is new, what is different from the Garage where the new office is designed :) Putting Technology, TV and Garage together, I am sure geeks out there will enjoy the show like I do. Here is a promo video for you if you are still skeptical. Prefer reading? No problem, they post everything in writing together with the video at the Garage Series Official Blog. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDYcyAh5owc[/youtube]

We Live to Code - The Zombies Strike Again

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 06:41:10 +0000

The Zombies Strike Again!!! Take part in We Live to Code 2013, that has returned stronger and better with our partner, Samsung! What’s best is that anyone can sign up, whether you are a student, developer or a startup!

So, develop a great app and be part of the app revolution! All developers can register individually or as a team, preferably in teams of three or less. If you’re a lone ranger, fret not. On the first day of the hackathon, you can mingle with other participants and identify peeps you want together for the next month. Interested to be part of this awesome experience, yet you feel that lack the skills. Join us for pre-hackathon training on the evenings of 20th and 27th March. These trainings sessions are helmed by in-house Microsoft technical experts and target to equip participants with the relevant training to develop their apps. But, there’s a slight twist. We live to code returns with double pitching session, the first pitch will be held on the last day of the Hackathon (7th April 2013) and the second pitch will be on 5th May 2013. The former will constitute 30% of the team’s score and the latter will constitute 70%. In the one month period, you can then test and refine your apps from good to great. To be part of the this awesome experience, applicants can sign up via http://welivetocode.eventbrite.com/. Successful applicants will then be contacted via email for their personal particulars and their app ideas.

How to Be Digitally Sociable

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 04:48:37 +0000

Companies and brands now want to be your Facebook friend Today, social media seems to be more of an afterthought to most businesses rather than a tool as important as traditional communication channels. All too often, corporate Facebook pages and Twitter feeds are left stagnant or used merely as a one-way announcement medium.

Or worse still, things like this happen.

Despite its relative infancy when compared to older, more established communication avenues, social media should not be underestimated. Or worse still, only thought of as a last-ditch, cheap marketing tool to be exploited.

User Experience of Windows Phone 8, Lumia 920.

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 07:32:01 +0000

A windows phone 8 user, Ghislain, shares with us his experience using Lumia 920. Ghislain d’Adesky has been working in the mobile industry for the past 12 years. Ghislan has a strong multicultural background and is currently works at a multinational Chinese telecommunications equipment and services company as a Business Consultant. His specialties include competitive intelligence, international project coordination and networking. He holds a Master Degree in Management from SKEMA Business School (Lille, France) where he graduated in 2001. Here’s what he has to say: I have to admit, I am a bit of a smartphone addict. My first smartphone in 2003 was the Sony Ericsson P800 and it didn’t come out of the blue but rather as replacement for the Palms I had in the 90s. My next smartphones were T-Mobile branded HTC devices running on Windows Mobile (2003 SE, 5 and 6). In 2008 I moved on due to a mix of curiosity, peer pressure and availability issues of Windows Mobile devices in Bahrain, where I had moved. I became a Blackberry user for 3 years and I was quite happy with them. Nonetheless, I felt nostalgic after a while so I bought a Sony Ericsson Xperia X2 (Windows Mobile 6.5) to try it out at the beginning of 2010. The performance of this device and its size were disappointing and inconvenient. BBM also proved to be way too addictive so I ended up putting the device into a drawer and gave it away to a friend and that was probably not among the nicest gifts I ever made. At the beginning of 2011 I gave in and I bought the device I had sworn I would never acquire or even keep if offered: the iPhone (iPhone 4). After getting over the loss of a keyboard and BBM, I reluctantly had to admit that it was the most advanced smartphone I had ever used/owned. Being a frequent traveler I always need a second device and that I had the opportunity to discover Google’s Android, however the fact that these are mostly entry level devices that had their limitations i.e.: in terms of storage capacities or processing power, I couldn’t say that I had given Android a fair chance in comparison to iOS (since then I acquired a 7’’ tablet running on Android 4.0 and it changed my perspective of that OS). My iPhone didn’t age well e.g.: the pictures taken with it were all blurry after less than one year apparently because of too many scratches on the lens. With the release of Mango/Windows Phone 7.5 and the eye catching Nokia Lumia 800, I started to follow again what Microsoft was doing on the handset field. As I was starting to get bored with my iPhone and had already passed a first replacement opportunity: the iPhone 4S (couldn’t see how to justify an upgrade from the 4 to the 4S). Then Windows Phone 8 was announced. Microsoft’s new mobile OS looked nice, and despite wishing them success with it, I was waiting for the iPhone 5 to come out. I had grown accustomed to iOS but it was no longer a love match, habits/convenience had set in. However the iPhone 5 once again turned out to be a disappointment: only incremental changes and apparently made of shoddy material (I am thinking Scuffgate here). It made it at best uninteresting or unexciting as a replacement and at worst look like a rip off in any case it seemed Apple was taking its customers for granted. I didn’t like that so I decided that I would ditch the iPhone and move on to something new: the renewed version of the mobile OS I had been familiar with a couple of years before: Windows Phone 8. At first I was hesitating between the Samsung Ativ S and the Nokia Lumia 920. But the reviews, the partnership between Nokia and Microsoft and ultimately the availability made me choose the Lumia, my first Nokia ever. I ordered a black one in November, not my first choice: wanted a matt one but the gray seemed to exist only on pictures and the blue one exclusively sold in the US. However a delivery issue meant that I had to leave for weeks to Indonesia on a business without my new smartphone which was frustrating. It’s only shortly before the holidays that I could finally lay my hands on my Lumia 920 and it felt like Christmas came (several days) early! First impressions of WP8 Finally something fresh, it’s a mobile OS that is very user friendly and intuitive yet still exciting to discover and to use also for long time smartphone users. I instantly liked to “look and feel” of the OS, even the fonts look great, special attention to details had obviously been given. If you choose Bing as a lock screen, you will get a beautiful daily updated background picture. And every day I eager to see what it will be. The “Live Tiles” interface is absolutely brilliant. It is a smart and original way to combine icons and widgets and it makes every one’s Windows Phone unique. Yet personalization didn’t come at the expense of aesthetics and ease of use. Kudos Microsoft ! I noticed that even die-hard fans of competing mobile platforms are impressed or even jealous when they see WP8’s home screen. It is also the first time I get to experience the benefits of the ”Cloud” on a mobile. Skydrive enable eamless synchronization with my PC, my Android tablet or even my old iPhone. My pictures are automatically uploaded/shared, same thing goes for the notes taken with OneNote, or with the documents I wish to place on it. On my PC, Skydrive is actually a drive of its own right, appearing on Windows Explorer just as clearly as the local drives (C: D: ect.). It is a great experience, it’s very convenient and I told that this is just the beginning, that Microsoft is working hard a developing a fully integrated ecosystem Admittedly, Apple has the iCloud, tried to use it and couldn’t see the benefit of it. Teething problems with WP8 that will need to be addressed:

Microsoft Releases "My Server" for Windows 8

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 04:32:50 +0000

Microsoft has released the “My Server” app for Windows 8 and Windows RT, which enables users to check on their Windows Server 2012. Description: My Server for Windows 8 is an application designed to help you keep seamlessly connected to your server resources through devices running Windows 8. With My Server, you can manage users, devices, alerts, and access shared files in Windows Server 2012 Essentials. In addition, files that you have recently accessed with My Server files continue to be available to you even when offline. Features:

Tabletop Datacenter - Surface Pro Meets Hyper-V

Mon, 25 Feb 2013 02:49:04 +0000

This is a total geek experiment done by few Microsoft Redmond guys. They got 4 Surface Pro devices and built a server farm in about one hour. After that, they were just having fun and moving VM across the 4 Surface Pro devices. The key feature in Windows Server 2012 is Share Nothing Live Migration, which allows you to live migrate VMs without Cluster or share storage. If you want to try it out, here is the configuration guide. This is CRAZY, so sit back and enjoy the cool video! [youtube]http://youtu.be/4Uw7EDt86ss[/youtube]

Resources for IT Professionals

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 08:30:34 +0000

Resources for IT Pro

System Center Universe 2013 Summary

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:49:24 +0000

Thank you for those who attended System Center Universe on January 31st. We had a full house! This is the first time that System Center Universe was hosted in Singapore and streamed to few countries in South East Asia. It was a fantastic day of technical presentations and demos. Topics covered including:

Using System Center Operations Manager for Deep Application Monitoring and Diagnostics
Choosing Network Options in the new Hyper-V 2012 and SCVMM Service Pack 1 is HERE! What can I use?
Enabling Hosted and Shared Private Cloud using System Center 2012 SP1 Service Provider Framework
Using SCCM 2012 to perform More Efficient Patch and Compliance Management
How to lighten your IT workload footprint with System Center 2012 and Software Center

We also launched the System Center User Group APAC. Join the group now to learn from community of experts on System Center: https://www.facebook.com/groups/31495111417/ if you missed out the session, you can access the speaker presentations and event photos from the link below: http://sdrv.ms/Y73uwD More importantly download and try System Center 2012 SP1: http://aka.ms/SC2012_SP1eval

Checking on your Windows 8 App's Reviews

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 03:45:45 +0000

App Reviews are essential to every developer to see how their app is faring in the Store. It tells developers what issues users face when using the app, suggestions on what to implement next, and even compliments on what they’re doing right. If you have created an app for Windows 8, you would have noticed that the current Windows 8 Developer Dashboard doesn’t report ratings in a very efficient manner, grouping it by country and requiring developers to scroll through an entire list to see the ratings for each country. They’ve noted that they are considering consolidating all the reviews so that you can see every country at once, but in the meantime here’s how to see all your app’s ratings. There’s a site called Windows 8 Review that has a service which scans through the Windows 8 Store and reports on app popularity and ratings. The ratings are pulled from every country and not just one, letting you see what users think about your app in a neat list. The site even includes an RSS Feed for your app reviews, so you can check on them easily if you’re using a feed reader such as Feedburner.

Get your Chinese New Year shopping done with App of the Week DBS Shopper and Indulge

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 01:52:25 +0000

Ok, this might be a little early, but Happy Chinese New Year to everyone!

As you may know, Chinese New Year is a time for young and old alike to stuff their faces, enjoy some family time, give or take some ang paos (red packets) and more importantly… buy new stuff!It’s times like these that make you glad that you’ve gotten yourself that credit or debit card that DBS offered you. There’s no better way to maximise that now than with our app of the week, DBS Shopper and Indulge.

Windows Phone 7.8 SDK Released

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 17:12:35 +0000

On the 22nd of January, the Windows Phone 7.8 SDK was released. The SDK update adds Windows Phone 7.8 emulator images, and adds Live Tile options for Windows Phone 7.8.

Your app’s primary tile can have a customized small tile, support wide tiles, and also take advantage of the Flip tile template.

Secondary tiles can be enabled to take advantage of all three of the new tile templates (Flip, Iconic, and Cycle).

These new tile templates will allow Windows Phone 7.8 applications to look as beautiful as those on Windows Phone 8, therefore bridging the gap in terms of Start Screen experience. This can be tested on the new emulator images, which will enable one to see how their Windows Phone 7 app works on the new Start Screen, especially with the new ability to make the app’s tile smaller. With Windows Phone 7.8 about to roll out for older devices, and more and more devices coming out with Windows Phone 7.8, it is important to refresh your app to be ready for users who would no doubt love a great Start Screen experience, which could very well be the difference between pinning your app to the Start Screen and not. You can get the Windows Phone 7.8 SDK Update here. If you are having to maintain a WP7 and WP8 version of your app, it might be difficult to have different coding for the Start Screen. Fortunately, Rudy Huyn, creator of the famous Wikipedia and 9Gag apps on Windows Phone, has created a solution. Mangopollo introduces classes and launches that mimic WP8 functionality on WP7, therefore having no need to have different coding between versions. You can check out the project on CodePlex here.

Modern.IE: Testing made easier in Internet Explorer

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:50:50 +0000

Sick and tired of testing your web apps on multiple versions of Internet Explorer? Modern.IE is here to save the day! Modern.IE is a new resource for web developers that offers tools to help optimize their sites for modern browsers like IE10. A new code detection wizard to detect common coding issues Developers start by entering a webpage URL that they want to test: In a few seconds, modern.IE reports the webpage results in the below three categories, and includes recommendations on how to update the site:

Imagine Cup 2013 Singapore Round 1 Result

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 04:48:40 +0000

Congratulations to the team who made it into Round 2! Your epic journey starts now!

Team Name

School

GMINI

Republic Polytechnic

DICE - Dissemination of Information through Community Engagement

Nanyang Polytechnic

HalvedSense

Temasek Polytechnic

HeartGuru

Nanyang Technological University

i-eyescan

Temasek Polytechnic

Education Delivery, Entrée

Singapore Polytechnic

Perceptive Emotive Cognitive Therapy System

Nanyang Polytechnic

Application for Phonological and Phonemic Awareness (APPA)

Temasek Polytechnic

Ground TechBreaker(Liveliness), location based

Singapore University of Technology & Design

Automate SCOM 2012 SP1 Prerequisites Installation with PowerShell

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 04:10:54 +0000

System Center 2012 SP1 is now available for public download. I am actually refreshing few demo labs I have. System Center Operation Manager is one those components in System Center actually has quite few prerequisites. Configuring these prerequisites can be frustrating, especially if you are doing it for the first time. There is a way to actually simply this by using PowerShell, which is pretty much the coolest tool for efficiency. The real credit of this goes to Ke****vin Greene, a system center MVP, who posted a details blog post on this. Here are the two scripts that I often use for Combined Management server deployment of SCOM2012 SP1. Windows Server 2008 - Combined Management Server, Operations Console and Web Console Roles PreReq Script #This section will install all the Windows Server 2008 Roles and Feature Prereqs for the Web Console Role# import-module servermanager Add-WindowsFeature NET-Framework-Core,Web-Static-Content,Web-Default-Doc,Web-Dir-Browsing,Web-Http-Errors,Web-Http-Logging,Web-Request-Monitor,Web-Filtering,Web-Stat-Compression,AS-Web-Support,Web-Metabase,Web-Asp-Net,Web-Windows-Auth,AS-HTTP-Activation –restart #This section will download the Report Viewer Distributable Prereq for the SCOM 2012 SP1 Operations Console role on Windows Server 2008 to a folder on the C:\ drive called SCOM2012SP1Prereqs and will then install it automatically # $dwnld = “C:\SCOM2012SP1Prereqs” if (!(Test-Path -path $dwnld)) { New-Item $dwnld -type directory } $object = New-Object Net.WebClient $RPTurl = ‘http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/A/1/EA1BF9E8-D164-4354-8959-F96843DD8F46/ReportViewer.exe' $object.DownloadFile($RPTurl, “$dwnld\ReportViewer.exe”) Start-Process -FilePath “$dwnld\ReportViewer.exe” -ArgumentList /q -Wait #This section will download the .NET Framework 4.0 Redistributable Prereq for Windows Server 2008 to a folder on the C:\ drive called SCOM2012SP1Prereqs and will then install it automatically# $dwnld = “C:\SCOM2012SP1Prereqs” if (!(Test-Path -path $dwnld)) { New-Item $dwnld -type directory } $object = New-Object Net.WebClient $RPTurl = ‘http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/5/A/95A9616B-7A37-4AF6-BC36-D6EA96C8DAAE/dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe’ $object.DownloadFile($RPTurl, “$dwnld\dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe”) Start-Process -FilePath “$dwnld\dotNetFx40_Full_x86_x64.exe” -ArgumentList /q -Wait #This section will enable the ISAPI and CGI extensions for IIS and .NET 4.0 once the .NET 4.0 redistributable has been installed# c:\windows\system32\inetsrv\appcmd set config /section:isapiCgiRestriction /[path=`‘C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v4.0.30319\aspnet_isapi.dll`’].allowed:True Click here to download this PowerShell script as a .PS1 file

Get a scholarship to Founder Institute by joining BizSpark Launch Academy

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 06:09:53 +0000

The Spiffy team is proud to partner Founder Institute to offer 3 scholarships to Windows Developers in their upcoming April Semester 2013! Developers can earn yourself a scholarship through BizSpark Launch Academy. BizSpark Launch Academy is a competition for startups and individual developers based in Singapore who are building applications for the Windows Store, Windows Phone 8 or on Windows Azure. You will stand the chance to receive expert training and feedback to launch startup companies with Founder Institute beginning in April 2013. And… that’s not all! You can also participate in Windows Startup Challenge with the app ideas that you pitch through BizSpark Launch Academy. This could lead you to launch your Windows Store app at DEMO Mobile, a global launchpad for the most innovative mobile startups held in April 2013 in San Francisco, California. So, if you have the ability to prototype a Windows Store app, quickly iterate to design, and bring your app to life, send in an image of the prototype to win8sg@microsoft.com with a quick overview of the app and personal particulars by 8th Feb 2013. More details of how to enter can be found at http://academy.weshipcode.com. You can also tweet about your app building process or prototypes with #app4theWIN. About Founder Institute The Founder Institute is an early-stage startup accelerator and global launch network that helps entrepreneurs create meaningful and enduring technology companies. Through a part-time four month program, existing and prospective founders can launch their dream company with expert training, feedback, and support from experienced startup CEOs - while not being required to quit their day job. Our unique Graduate Liquidity Pool also enables graduates and mentors to share in the equity upside of each class, creating local, teamwork-based ecosystems where great new businesses can flourish. In just over three years of operation, the Founder Institute has helped launch over 650 companies across 37 cities and five continents - making us the world’s largest startup accelerator. Our goal is to “Globalize Silicon Valley” by launching 1,000 meaningful and enduring technology companies per year in over 50 cities worldwide. The Founder Institute was founded in 2009 by serial entrepreneur Adeo Ressi, and is operated out of a small office in the heart of Silicon Valley.

App of the Week: Read HWM while you're on Windows

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 17:06:17 +0000

App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! HWM is one of Singapore’s most loved technology magazines. We’re really thrilled that it’s on the Windows Store! Here’s what it looks like : HWM adopted a sleek design for it’s Windows Store application. It automatically loads the most updated issue of the magazine and you can opt to purchase it. By scrolling right, you can see the rest of the issues of HWM! There’s never been a better time to save some trees. Once you select the magazine, the pages automagically load. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy all the gadget eye candy that’s going around. Great content presented by one of the leading technology magazines in Singapore. Try it out today and let us know what you think!

System Center 2012 SP1 GA and Register for System Center Universe to Learn More

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 02:29:36 +0000

The wait is over! System Center 2012 SP1 is now available for download here. System Center 2012 uniquely delivers unified infrastructure, application and cloud management capabilities in a single product offering. Below blog post from the Microsoft Server and Cloud Blog highlights new cloud and datacenter capabilities introduced in SP1. http://blogs.technet.com/b/server-cloud/archive/2013/01/15/transform-your-datacenter-with-system-center-2012-sp1.aspx If you are interested to learn more about the new capabilities, we have just the event for you. You can now join a full technical session delivered by Microsoft System Center MVPs and industry experts. It is happening in Singapore on 31st January. There is no marketing fluff! Go to below link and register now! http://www.systemcenteruniverse.asia/index.html Learn more about System Center 2012 SP1 and start your evaluation.

Windows 8 IT Pro Apps

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 03:59:32 +0000

I talked about the Server Posterpedia Apps for Windows 8 previously. It is a great app for IT Pros. Recently I notice more and more Windows 8 Apps are in the store for IT Pros. Most these apps allow you to perform certain IT Pro administration tasks right from your Windows 8 Apps. The best part is all of them can run in the snap view. You can keep an eye on thing while you working on your desktop. Sandy Berkouwer posted a blog called “Embracing the new Windows 8 Interface with these Three Free IT Pro Apps”, she highlighted three of her favorite FREE Windows 8 Apps for IT Pro. The Remote Desktop app The desktop RDP is still in Windows 8. The good thing about this app is you get to enjoy the entire screen for RDP. You can easily switch between Desktop and RDP session. Don’t have to worry about resolution and display settings etc. Another thing I like is the preview feature. You get to see the preview screen of recent RDP connections. The Hyper-V Manager App This app is like your small dashboard for Hyper-v Hosts and VMs. You can perform the following functions:

Essential apps for your new Windows Phone 8

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 02:57:57 +0000

Happy New Year everyone! I’m quite sure a lot of you managed to get your hands on the brand new flagship Windows Phones by Nokia and HTC. If you didn’t because they were sold out, don’t worry! More stock will come soon. To kick start your new journey with Windows Phone 8 and perhaps to inspire you to build new ones, here are some of our top picks!

Top featured App

Make free Skype to Skype video and voice calls as well as send instant messages to friends and family around the world with this preview of Skype for Windows Phone 8. SKYPE for Windows Phone 8 Preview.

Lean UX Week - Workshops by UX Guru Janice Fraser

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:51:49 +0000

Microsoft BizSpark is proud to be a sponsor for Lean UX Week. The event will run from January 25 – 27, in our very own Auditorium in Microsoft Singapore! Lean UX Week includes three separate one-day workshops catering to students, leaders, and anyone building a product. That’s three days of intensive work focused on the most important topics: customers, product, metrics, and vision. Here’s what you’ll learn. Lean UX Week is a workshop that helps you to learn how to help your organisation create good habits around documenting assumptions about customers by creating personas, defining the minimum viable product, using a metrics dashboard to measure your product’s success and aligning your team members around a common purpose and set of values.

New Developer Communities

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 10:03:03 +0000

We know how important it is to connect like-minded people with each other, so we’ve created 2 new developer communities. Within these Facebook groups you’ll find the latest news, events, resources and a whole bunch of other cool stuff! It’s a pretty awesome place to meet new people! If this sounds like something you want to be involved in, go ahead and join us! Windows 8 Singapore Developer Community Windows Phone Singapore Developer Community See you on there! P.s. MSDN Singapore ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-sg/aa497440.aspx) is still alive, check it out here if you aren’t already familiar with the awesome resources on there!

The Ultimate Guide to Porting Your Windows 8 Applications

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 08:45:45 +0000

2012: A year of Microsoft Milestones

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 03:59:29 +0000

Hi Everyone, It is almost the end of year 2012. This is the time we look back the whole year, think about what we have accomplished and look forward to the new year. I hope it was a fruitful year for you. Year 2012 is a huge year for Microsoft. Many excitements around our new products and services. Here is a video. Enjoy! Last but not least, I would like to thank you for your time reading our blog here. See you soon in Year 2013. Happy New Year ! [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ismMaczcCzo&feature=player_embedded&ytsession=ZkB_Eb-kHtahwejUH2edpuECwN-zXWbGN3eA7lIFvyMsFzlBcdccXHVAwTgp9NmVmkikFHSZxLjClmQhtePG5OQtTh_JKWkBfxecFKEl9GcLCQjTph87uuE11bqJ7mJ3Cg86ekcnOT7xbX9F2BqXS6dHIY4_V2FPnTNsdytZwSjrDHEZk-dyasoNc43dKX4xoe_wTEWtY3sD82miZVk65v8sSwNbOxhVc86QQDW6qN4[/youtube]

A "small" demonstration - Is windows 8 really that simple?

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 04:26:44 +0000

How simple is Windows 8? Here is literally a “small” Demonstration. It is done by Microsoft Portugal, but with English subtitles. Enjoy :) [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ODFvy1mjoY[/youtube]

Windows Server 2012 QoS Common Configurations

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 10:03:11 +0000

One of the exciting new network capabilities in Windows Server 2012 is Quality of Services (QoS). QoS technologies allow you to meet the service requirements of a workload or an application by measuring network bandwidth, detecting changing network conditions (such as congestion or availability of bandwidth), and prioritizing - or throttling - network traffic. For example, you can use QoS to prioritize traffic for latency-sensitive applications (such as voice or video streaming), and to control the impact of latency-insensitive traffic (such as bulk data transfers). QoS provides the following features.

Content Highlights from Build 2012

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 06:57:24 +0000

Watch all videos from Build 2012 here: http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Build/2012 Build is Microsoft’s annual developer conference. This year’s Build on October 30 - 2 November in Redmond was especially memorable because of the key consumer product launches such as Windows 8, Surface, Windows Phone 8 and Office that represent a huge developer opportunity. Tickets were sold out within the first hour of sales, which is not surprise considering the great content and the fact that attendees were treated to a free Surface RT and 100GB of Skydrive storage! We know it’s pretty late, but we’ve spent some time sieving through the many videos and here are some of the key talks that stood out for us!

Why I Love Windows Server 2012 Part 4 - Storage Space

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 08:28:19 +0000

What is Storage Space? Storage Space in the nutshell is storage virtualization. It allows you to turn commodity server into a storage server almost like a SAN. Why Does Storage Space Matter? One important reason to virtualize is to have high availability, but it can be expensive. You always needed a share storage - SAN. Storage Space provides the SAN-like capabilities for your cluter or standalone server. Let’s face it, many organization cannot afford to have SAN everywhere. This provides a great alternative and allow IT to enable more high availability across the entire infrastructure. For small and medium size organization, IT can leverage it to have a enterprise grade deployment. Benefits and Limitations Some of the goals of Storage Spaces include the ability to:

Windows Store app development for iOS developers Live Stream

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 06:53:54 +0000

Join the Big Nerd Ranch and Microsoft for this free, two-day training designed to jumpstart your Windows Store app development. You will learn the ins-and-outs of the Windows platform from iOS developers who are now building Windows apps. Sessions will follow a low-key, interactive format where iOS terms and concepts will be mapped to Windows alternates. You will also get hands-on time to apply what you’ve learned.

Event Date Time zone: (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) Thursday Dec 13, 2012 - 9 to 5 PM Friday Dec 14, 2011 - 9 to 5 PM Event Location Live Stream: here You can register for the live stream here, then just point your browser to Channel 9 or to our registration site on the day of the event. You can also tune in at the Verge to watch the live stream.

Annoucing Windows Server 2012 Early Experts Study Group: Singapore

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 08:35:16 +0000

Announcing the Early Experts Study Group for Singapore!

Building on the efforts of the Early Experts group currently running in LinkedIn, the Singapore Windows User Group will be running a series of sessions and blog posts to help you prepare for your Windows Server 2012 exams.

The series will focus on helping you achieve the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate certification. The content will be relevant to both those taking the individual exams in the track and to those who are upgrading their 2008 Certifications.

Northern Europe Microsoft Student Partner Summit 2012 @ Microsoft Ireland

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:17:29 +0000

The Northern Europe Microsoft Student Partner (MSP) Summit 2012 was a 3-day event held in Microsoft Ireland. It was simply amazing. [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Our welcome posters!”][/caption] This submit has given us MSPs an opportunity to meet students from all over Northern Europe. Through my stay, I have met people from Belgium, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Russia, and of course other parts of UK. I suppose I was the unique one, coming from an Asian background, studying in both US and UK, and people remember me as the Singapore guy, even though I represented University College London (UCL) and UK in this summit. [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Phil Cross giving an introduction about himself”][/caption] We started off the session with a country sharing session, and I felt like I was taking a trip around the Northern Europe then. At first, it was difficult to understand one another as everyone had different level of English proficiency. However, we slowly got used to it, and learnt to speak slower to accommodate one another. Then, we started to learn about everyone’s languages and facts about their country. For instance, the Belgium people spoke 3 languages - Dutch, French and German, as they are ‘forced’ to learn them all in school. The country is also extremely complicated in many aspects, which was actually pretty hilarious if you find out more via this video. [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“458” caption=“Local food for tasting!”][/caption] Also, it was funny how the Northern Lights are such a common thing for those living in Norway, Finland and Iceland, and it was also quite funny how they tried to rival and claim the aurora borealis belonging to their countries. It’s also interesting to hear that in summer, the sun never sets in some parts of these countries, while in winter, the sun practically does not come out throughout the day. In fact, the sun is so precious, that people are given offs to enjoy it while it lasts. Many of our friends also brought lots of their local delights for us to try (for some reason, alcohol seemed to present in almost everything). Simply an eye-opener. [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Learning the Estonian language”][/caption] The highlight was when a lucky 45 of us were chosen to visit the Microsoft Data Center. Well, let’s just say it BLEW our minds away. And since we signed a non-disclosure agreement (and no photos allowed), I shall not talk about it here. But it was quite incredible to know that whatever we saw in that facility supported Microsoft’s cloud and online services for the whole of Europe - and even Singapore! Just imagine the finesse, on top of the amount of power and hard disk space needed to keep everything running, and to protect the data from being stolen. Previously, I was touring people around the mini server rooms in Microsoft Singapore; and that was nothing compared to the one I saw here. In case you’re feeling jelly, maybe this might help you get over it :) [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“A team working hard on the team project”][/caption] After a long day of workshops, coding and working on our game project, Microsoft treated us to the Guinness Storehouse, where we had unlimited flow of alcohol and food at the Infinity bar. This was the 2nd time I visited the Storehouse (yes I visited it on my own just 2 nights before), but the experience was different with the MSPs this time. I also had the chance to make my own Guinness again, but this time round I made one with the Shamrock logo on it! Free alcohol must drink - and being an Asian who can’t take too much, I ended up KO-ed right at the bar, leaving me unable to code for the night, while the rest of the group continued coding back at Microsoft with even more beer (in cartons mind you), in preparation for the final presentation the next morning. Crazy stuff; how can anyone take so much alcohol! [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“UK MSPs at the Guinness Infinity Bar”][/caption] We also had the opportunity to tour around the office, to see how live development of Windows 8, Xbox and Azure took place in the site. Many fresh hires also shared with us their experiences on how to get hired by the awesome company, and Michelle Fleming, the overall coordinator of the MSP programme also took the opportunity to interact with the MSP on the ground, and to hear what we really want from the programme. [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Our Microsoft nametags!”][/caption] This event was a huge blast, and everyone certainly took away with them a fair bit about coding on Windows 8 and the Microsoft technology, and most importantly the camaraderie forged. I’m really thankful for Microsoft for providing such a wonderful opportunity, sponsoring all our expenses, for all the great hospitality, the great food and the planning of this event! :)

Windows Server 2012 Rocks Commuity Roadshow is Here!!

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 08:39:07 +0000

The Windows Server 2012 Rocks Community Roadshow is here! Windows Server 2012 is built from the cloud up, offering a scalable, dynamic, multitenant platform that allows IT to respond to business needs faster and more efficiently. Microsoft MVPs bring you all of the information you need to know—and provide demos to bring this technology to life! Join our industry experts and register for a Windows Server 2012 Community Roadshow event today.

Getting started: TypeScript for Windows 8 Projects using Visual Studio 2012

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 08:21:09 +0000

TypeScript is a language for application-scale JavaScript. TypeScript adds optional types, classes, and modules to JavaScript. TypeScript supports tools for large-scale JavaScript applications for any browser, for any host, on any OS. TypeScript compiles to readable, standards-based JavaScript. Try it at http://typescriptlang.org/playground. Our Technical Evangelist, Yizhe Shen, will teach you how to get started with TypeScript for Windows 8 Projects! Hi Everyone! It’s been a very long time since I last posted on this blog. I will be posting more frequently these days as I have more time to ramp up with our latest and coolest technologies. As I have volunteered to do a TypeScript lightning talk at our Hack Weekend event in Microsoft Singapore, I decided to mix in some Windows 8 element into it to make things interesting. Software to download & install: · TypeScript http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34790 · Web Essentials http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/07d54d12-7133-4e15-becb-6f451ea3bea6 Please make sure your VS 2012 is in RTM and not RC/Beta as Web Essentials needs RTM version to install correctly. So, if you are new to TypeScript, you can check out the official website at http://www.typescriptlang.org/. From the official site, you will be able to test out TypeScript live through the PlayGround page (http://www.typescriptlang.org/Playground/) which gives you instant TypeScript to Javascript conversions via the browser. This is a great place to test out some of the new syntext for TypeScript. It also contains a couple of sample projects to illustrate how you can use TypeScript in different scenarios – one of which is a Windows 8 Sample Project. To get started in writing TypeScript code, you will need to install a plug-in for Visual Studio 2012. There are a couple of ways you can get TypeScript working but for this post, we will focus on getting it integrated into VS2012. Simply navigate to http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34790 and download the latest TypeScript plug-in app. The current version we will be using today is the 0.8.1 release. Installation is a breeze as it’s a MSI file. Do take note that even thou you can install the file without VS being installed, to get it working, you have to make sure you reinstall the files after VS is installed to get it integrated. Now, this is where things get slightly different if you wish to get TypeScript working in a Windows 8 Javascript/HTML5 apps. As TypeScript currently only have templates for Web Projects, you will need to manually enable TypeScript to work on a Windows 8 VS Project. If you can see the template above, it means you have TypeScript successfully installed in your machine. Next, close VS and proceed to install the Web Essential for VS 2012 (http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/07d54d12-7133-4e15-becb-6f451ea3bea6) This is important because it will gives you the split screen later when you can see live JS code being generated from your TS code. Once everything is installed, you can now proceed to create a simple Windows 8 solution. Once your solution is created, this is what you will see in the solution explorer: For web projects, the TS plug-in will automatically setup the files for you to link your JS files with your TS code. However, as this is yet to be implemented by the team for Windows 8 projects, we will have to do it manually. But before we do anything, let’s import the necessary files that TS needs for Windows 8 apps. The files that you need to be included in your project are:

Startup Weekend Singapore Women Edition - Last Call!

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 06:13:03 +0000

Last call for this exciting event! We’ve been always a great supporter of Startup Weekend here in Singapore and we’re inviting everyone for the first Startup Weekend Woman’s Edition. It’s not yet too late to sign up. If you want to have an exciting time this weekend learning from entrepreneurs or getting your startup itch scratched, make sure you don’t pass on this event. Register at http://singaporewomen.startupweekend.org/

Hybrid Cloud - Expanding Datacenter into Azure IaaS

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:33:00 +0000

Well, Have you ever thought about the idea to use Public Cloud resources on demand to server as part of your datacenter? Many did, but how to securely connect the Public Cloud resources back to your own Datacenter and function as a collective unit is the biggest challenge. Well, Windows Azure has something to offer now. You can now connect Windows Azure Virtual Network to an on-premises network via site-to-site VPN connection as shown in diagram below. What is the requirement? You need a VPN gateway device in your on-premises datacenter. Here is the list of currently supported devices

Put your tile right next to apps on the Windows 8 Start Screen in minutes

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:25:19 +0000

The Windows 8 Start Screen is all about tiles. If you’ve got a website, it’s a good idea to customize your website’s tile for a great look when your users pin them onto their Windows 8 Start Screens. BuildMyPinnedSite is precisely for that and is now available in 42 languages! For web developers, using BuildMyPinned Site allows your website to get a tile on the Windows 8 Start Screen by simply typing in your site’s URL into the box! Check it out here: http://www.buildmypinnedsite.com/

WOWZAPP Singapore - 25 Zombie teams demo their Windows 8 apps

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 08:25:38 +0000

WOWZAPP 2012 is the Worldwide Hackathon for Windows. The Spiffy team hosted 120 developers and designers from the 9 – 11 Nov in a 24 hour race to create Windows 8 apps. Pitch Night (9 Nov) Participants were given 60 seconds each to pitch their Windows 8 app ideas and form groups. This significantly improved the quality of the apps as only the best ideas were selected to be further developed upon. Our youngest attendees, Ragul, 12 years old and his brother, 10 pitched their Windows 8 game, Miners. The secret sauce to every app is important – what makes your app stand out from the rest on the Windows Store? Hack Time (10- 11 Nov) Participants had 24 hours to come up with their Windows 8 applications. This includes a myriad of games, productivity apps, travel and branded apps. Tianyang and fellow ame developers from Tyler Projects hacked 3 games in 24 hours. Participants making themselves comfortable on Level 21. Lightning Talks Lightning talks are short, concise 20 mins talks by speakers to summarize a topic. We had 4 Lightning talks covering Windows 8 Design, Window Phone 8, Game Development for Windows 8 and creating apps using Parse and Mashape. Gary from Nokia, talked about the new Windows Phone 8 and the opportunities for developers. Surviving WOWZAPP We kept participants awake by screening horror movies and feeding them with popcorn and candy floss! Our booth serving popcorn and candyfloss. WOWZAPP attendees took a break from the hackathon by watching horror movies at midnight. Demo and Judging Time 25 teams demo-ed their Windows 8 applications, a mix of productivity, games and corporate apps. Keith, who works as a developer at Philips Singapore – demoed his Windows 8 app Seamless Sound, a middleware app that helps you to sync all your playlists to your music devices. The team from NYP demoed their educational game for children to improve spelling abilities – WOW Words. The judging of the apps were based on 50% audience voting and 50% by our technical evangelists, Yizhe, Chun Siong our AMM, Alex.

Microsoft launches design resource site for Windows Phone Developers

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 05:32:52 +0000

Microsoft has launched a site detailing the design principles and concepts used for designing Windows Phone apps. This comes just after their release of the new Windows Phone 8 SDK recently, and contains excellent and helpful information on how to design a Windows Phone app that matches the unique Windows design. It delves in great depth the design principles and process in designing a Windows Phone app.

Our design principles

We believe in experiences that are defined by clean, uncluttered app screens that operate quickly, minimize typing, and surface new info automatically.

Why I Love Windows Server 2012 Part 3 - Server Manager

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:27:05 +0000

Server Manager is entirely different in Windows Server 2012, but it is a great server management tool now. From a single management point, you can manage almost the entire server infrastructure. There are many server administrator tasks can be done through server manager now. Let’s see how things works in the new Server Manager.

The Dashboard

The new server manager dashboard shows everything happens around the servers in your infrastructure including a overview on Manageability, Services, Events, and Performance. All your servers will automatically grouped based on the roles and features installed on that server. This includes both physical hosts and Virtual Machines. You can click on any warnings or critical errors directly to see the details.

Upgrade to Visual Studio Premium 2012 with MSDN and save 30%

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:48:06 +0000

Windows Elite event with Steve Ballmer

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 00:42:58 +0000

As the Senior Director of the Microsoft UK Developer and Platform Group has highlighted during the Windows 8 Elite launch 2 weeks ago, we Windows 8 app developers in the UK Windows Elite programme had the rarest opportunity to attend a special event today with a very distinguished guest - Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO. When I first arrived at Modern Jago, I was extremely thrilled to see so many Microsoft Surfaces on display! I’m so glad I finally got to play with one, as I have been anticipating this for months since its announcement! This event celebrated the talents behind a marvelous display of existing Windows 8 apps in store today, as many of the developers present had their apps featured. Ballmer also took the opportunity to highlight the vast opportunities for developers with Windows’ unprecedented market. [caption id=“attachment_12534” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Developers awed as they listened attentively to Ballmer[/caption] There were also the latest Nokia Lumia 820 which runs on the Windows Phone 8 Operating System. These devices are amazing stuff, and I certainly wish I could have one of these for Christmas. Any Santa wannabes? :) [caption id=“attachment_12533” align=“alignnone” width=“610”]Lumia 820 on display[/caption] Hearing from Mr. Ballmer himself was totally inspiring. A pity I didn’t manage to speak to him nor catch him for a picture, as he was rushing off (from what I heard) to meet the Prime Minister. [caption id=“attachment_12532” align=“alignnone” width=“610”]Ballmer presenting about the vast opportunities for developers[/caption] It’s really cool, and certainly pays off to be a Windows 8 developer. Why not join in the fun? More photos from this event can be found on Modern Jago’s event coverage or my personal Facebook album.

From iOS to Windows 8 - Tyler Projects shares their game development experience

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:29:33 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_12425” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Pix Blitz is a fun little puzzle game by Tyler Projects. Solve puzzles generated from a library of beautiful photos.”][/caption] Nestled in a cosy office in Toa Payoh is Tyler Projects http://www.tylerprojects.com/, one of the most successful indie game development companies in Singapore. Since 2007, Tyler Projects has been developing an impressive portfolio of games - it’s most successful being Battle Stations, a browser based role playing strategy game that was in Top 5 nominee lists of Mashable’s Open Web Awards for Best Facebook Game and Best Facebook App. Tyler Projects has also gone on to develop titles like Ricochet, Starbase and Social Life on various platforms like Facebook, iOS, Android and more recently, Windows 8. [caption id=“attachment_12453” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Tyler Projects is most popular for their game - Battle Stations”][/caption] We chat with CTO Ty Tianyang and Mobile Game Developer Edmund Ching to find out more about their new line of casual games, Pix Blitz and Travel Blitz, which are new to the Windows Store! [caption id=“attachment_12456” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Game developer Edmund Ching (left) and CTO of Tyler Projects, Ty Tianyang (right).”][/caption] Why did Tyler Projects choose to bring Pix Blitz and Travel Blitz early to the Windows Store? New platforms are a critical opportunity for game developers. Distribution and marketing is an increasingly hard problem for to solve. In the past you could rely on a few distributors to get the word out for you, but with the new wave of mobile devices and multiple platforms that are being used to play games on, you can no longer just stick to a few and ignore new platforms. We’ve seen the benefits of getting on a new platform early. We launched Battle Stations on Facebook in September 2007 and it was successful because it gave us exposure to more users through it’s inbuilt viral features. That’s why we decided to get onto Windows 8 as well and develop Pix Blitz and Travel Blitz on it. The Singaporean mentality is such that we are always very late to jump in onto these new platforms - which puts us at a disadvantage in the long term.With a new platform, there’s less competition and you spend less marketing dollars to get the same amount of eyeballs on your game in the store. The tough part is acting fast and getting your games onto the platform. We were working on a tight deadline to get Pix Plitz and Travel Blitz onto the Windows Store in time of the launch on 26 October. We’re not in a rush to see results yet from Windows 8, because we know that new platforms do take some time to become more mainstream. However, we do know that Windows 8 does have a big potential simply because of the market size and upgrades available to users. Tell us about your game development experiences on Windows 8. We did three games for Windows 8 - Drop Zone, Pix Blitz and Travel Blitz. Drop Zone was developed using HTML5 (Tianyang), while Pix Blitz and Travel Blitz were done using Cocos2D (Edmund). Tianyang: This is actually the first time I’m experimenting with HTML5. I made use of the WinJS libraries, which made it easier to port Drop Zone over to Windows 8. The thing about JavaScript as a whole though, is that it’s still not that well documented, so you need to be very clear about what you want in your application when you’re developing it. For example, when you want to enable a Timer event, there are 3 different ways of doing it, so you do need to know which method is the faster and less tedious way of doing so. Official documentation of examples are good. If I want to learn about how to use the accelerometer, there are code samples in both C++ and JavaScript to help developers. Edmund: I used Cocos 2D, a free-to-use opensource 2D game engine originally for iOS devices. There are several branches with the same libraries provide support for other devices such as BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone and Windows 8. That made it easier for me as I didn’t need to re-learn and start from scratch when creating a new game for a different platform because I knew the game logic. I did however, have some issues when it came to implementing native features using Cocos2D because they were restricted on Windows 8. I think what’s important is to develop your game and continuously improve it with time. Windows 8 RTM has only been launched for less than a month, much shorter than iOS, which is natural for why there is less support for it. In meantime, we just have to make some small in-game changes to get our game into the market and test the response. Are there any significant User Experience design changes that you had to implement with Windows 8? [caption id=“attachment_12483” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Using Snapped View on Windows 8”][/caption] We didn’t have to make any significant UX changes to the games. Unlike other app categories, games are encouraged to keep to their own individual user experiences. The only issue we encountered was with the privacy settings. We had to learn how to write a C++ wrapper to activate the charm bar on Windows 8, where the privacy policy could be found. We also had to make sure we were scaling our game to cater for multiple resolutions and orientations (at least landscape mode). What we noticed is that review guidelines from the Windows Store team might also need some refinement, but I’m sure over time it will improve, as with it did on iOS. What’s most important for game developers is that you make sure your game doesn’t crash when players are switching between modes and that you implement the snap view ( one of the four possible application view states for Windows 8 that appears when the user is multi-tasking and wants to append the app that they are using to one side of the screen). Live tiles are a key differentiation for apps on the new Start Menu on Windows 8. Unfortunately we were unable to implement Live Tiles when we decided to ship the uncompleted games to make it in time to the Windows 8 Launch deadline, but we are going to update them and these are some of the things we will look out for. [caption id=“attachment_12484” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Windows 8 Snapped View allows users to multi-task and continue playing their games.”][/caption] What are some of the trends that have affected game developers recently? Mobile users are typically casual gamers, so we’ve also had to develop games that have more mass appeal so that we can reach out to the mass tablet / smartphone markets. For example, Pix Blitz and Travel Blitz are both games have simple controls and can be played anywhere, anytime. Moving forward, we will keep exploring mobile technologies and improving our games to cater for a wider variety of audiences. Could you share with us your monetisation strategy for the games on Windows 8? At the moment we are still experimenting with the various platforms and not that worried about monetisation yet. We will continue to add more social / new features to our games on Windows 8. With new platforms, it’s about balancing the risks. By using HTML5 and Cocos 2D, we are negotiating the risk we take when we develop on new platforms and can easily port it over to other platforms as well. Any advice for game developers looking to develop on Windows 8? If you’re porting games from other platforms to Windows 8, try to add value to the game instead of doing a direct port over. Each platform has it’s own unique set of tools for you to make the most use of, so try to see how you can implement some of those elements to improve the user experience of the game specifically for that platform. If you do it right, it will appeal to more users and motivate old users as well to play your game on multiple platforms. More importantly, it proves a better user experience at the end of the day. With Windows 8 for example, there’s Live Tiles and Snap View that you should look out for to enhance the overall experience. If you are using native code, it’s going to be a challenge to port games over, so try to make use existing frameworks and game engines to help you ship faster. Each platform is like a mountain to climb, if you’re going to scale each mountain one by one, it will take a much longer time - what’s more effective is to write portable code and make your development cycle short. Of course, that would also depend on the kind of game you are developing. For example, if you’re developing a 3D car racing game - HTML5 might not be the most ideal technology unless you are sure that WebGL will be supported. Download Pix Blitz and Travel Blitz and let us know what you think! Pix Blitz: http://apps.microsoft.com/webpdp/en-us/app/pix-blitz/8e5251ae-313e-4ee1-87d2-0ce88418c2fd Travel Blitz: http://apps.microsoft.com/webpdp/en-us/app/travel-blitz/d1db8345-3a6d-40c0-8bd8-bc21765e6784

Windows Phone 8 SDK is now available for download

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 03:45:26 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_12436” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The new family of Windows Phone 8”][/caption] Windows Phone 8 is finally (I say finally because you have no idea how many developers have been asking me for the SDK) here. The phone market alone represents a tremendous opportunity. Competition is strong, but people are ready for a phone built around them. With a new Start screen, more customizable Live Tiles, and the innovative new features like Rooms and Kid’s Corner all revealed in the Windows Phone 8’s launch, Windows Phone 8 is the world’s most personal smartphone. Early industry and customer response has been fantastic, and Windows Phone will be available through 50 of the top mobile operators worldwide starting next month. The expansion of phone hardware options and Windows Phone Store to 191 markets equates to a 90 percent increase in addressable market for your apps in 2012.

Windows 8 Elite Launch @ UK

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 01:27:03 +0000

Windows 8 was launched on 26 October 2012 all over the world, and I was fortunately enough to be in London to witness for myself the Windows 8 Elite Launch here! The event was held at the Modern Jago Studios in Shoreditch, London, and it was extremely exclusive. In order to qualify, I had to get myself into the Elite programme, where I first had to build a great Windows 8 app and submit it to the Windows Store by 26 Oct 2012, which actually wasn’t too difficult! This has to be one of the most interesting events I’ve attended. Not only was the place very beautifully done up with free Polaroid pictures taken for us at the gallery, there were exciting activities to keep us occupied throughout the event! For instance, there was the Race car competition where we attendees had the opportunity to race with fellow app builders around the 8 lane figure of 8 track, with computerised lap times and top gear style leader board. The top performer walked away with an Xbox 360!! At the bar, there were free flow drinks up for grabs, while enthusiasts like myself had the chance to join in the mixology lab and learn how to create our very own cocktail from the professional bartenders on site! Served with Bangers & Mash, Fish & Chips and Burgers, we were given the opportunity to network with fellow Windows 8 app builders, and also create our very own customized limited edition Windows 8 Elite launch T-Shirts in less than 5 minutes. Mr. Anand Krishnan, Senior Director, Developer and Platform Group, Microsoft UK also took the opportunity to address the attendees. Briefly, he highlighted to app developers the potential of Windows 8, and also the benefits of being in the Elite programme, which includes exclusive invitations to many networking and app developer events in the UK. One of the highlights is to meet Steve Ballmer in person on the 7 Nov 2012. There were also opportunities for us to promote and showcase our apps, which is absolutely amazing! Since a picture speaks a thousand words, I’ll let them do the talking! In the meantime, if you happen to be in London from now till end of the year, be sure to check out some of these free-to-attend camps and workshops to provide you with resources to create your very own Windows 8 apps. And, if you’re in Singapore, do join us for WOWZAPP 2012: Worldwide Hackathon for Windows! This event is also held worldwide.

Microsoft Learning Tech Showcase

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 07:07:05 +0000

This is the product launch year for Microsoft. You have new products from the server all the way to the client. To help understand these technologies better, you can find Tech Showcase from all Microsoft Learning Partners. It comes with Hands-on experience on new technologies like Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 Development, SQL Server 2012, SharePoint Server 2013, Lync Server 2013 and many more. To find out more and have a first-hand look at the latest product features and enhancements, you can visit the following CPLS for more detail Tech Showcase details

Get Ready for Windows 8

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 01:27:17 +0000

The wait is over, Windows 8 is finally here. There were a lot of excitement across media, online and our launch events at different locations across Singapore. Many people already got their hands on Windows8. Now comes the next step. How can IT Pro be prepared and get ready for Windows 8? Here are some very good materials to get you up to speed on Windows 8 Management and Deployment. Watch the Windows 8 Jump Start for IT Pro: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/jj687764.aspx there are total 6 modules including

Spice Up Your Site with Windows 8 Flavours

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 17:22:24 +0000

The newly released Windows 8 has won many people’s heart for its interface. I just got my PC upgraded to Windows 8 today and I’m loving every single bit of the UI. It just looks so fresh and easy to the eyes. With this new UI, Microsoft is putting emphasis on content of applications, relying more on typography and less on graphics (“content before chrome”). Microsoft has also recently revamped its websites. Look at the new and slick Microsoft.com and Outlook.com. How could one not fall in love with websites with such UI? Having fallen in love with new Windows UI (previously called Metro/Modern UI), I’ve decided to take inspiration from that for my personal website that I’m currently working on. I embarked on my journey to find resources on creating such website. There are currently so many CSS frameworks available to ease up your web design process. You could get your static web prototype up in a matter of hours. So after doing some research, I’ve found three frameworks inspired by the new Windows UI that are worth considering. Metro Bootstrap (view site) Metro Bootstrap, as its name suggests, relies on Twitter Bootstrap and because of that it is easy to use. Most elements are brought back to basic (no gradients, rounded corners) as compared to the original bootstrap. The support for tiles are pretty minimum as for now. BootMetro (view site) BootMetro is another framework that relies on Twitter Bootstrap and provides a lot of Windows 8 components, such as Tiles, Application-Bar, Login, Charms, and styles for Form Elements. It offers you almost every thing you need to make your website / web app like a Windows 8 app. The default scrolling behaviour is horizontal. However, you have the option not to use it. Metro UI CSS (view site) The Metro UI CSS isn’t related to Twitter Bootstrap but it still offers similar features. Of course there are Tiles and a number of fancied up Form Controls. The sample site looks pretty nice. It’s got template for Selected Tiles, Image Slider Tiles, and Badges. Beside the three that I’ve mentioned above, you could also take a look at DropTiles if you want server side integration. Based on my finding, Metro Bootstrap is quite easy to integrate and it would be a good base if you intend to work on a simple website without dynamic Tiles and Windows 8 controls. BootMetro seems pretty powerful, but isn’t as classy. Metro UI CSS doesn’t rely on Bootstrap, so its cross browser support requires much more testing as compared to the other two. I will give Metro Bootstrap a try. If you’re using any of the frameworks mentioned or probably any other ones, you could share your experience with us. With these weapons bestowed upon you, go and spice up your site or app with Windows 8 flavours!+

Windows 8 Singapore Launch

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 05:12:32 +0000

Windows 8 has made its debut in Singapore as well as making its presence felt in countries worldwide. It is now available in stores nationwide, including Challenger, Courts, Harvey Norman, and Newstead. Launching together with Windows 8 are the new Windows 8 devices that will soon be filling the shelves of stores. There are over 50 new devices sporting the new Windows 8 from various manufacturers to launch in Singapore (with the exception of the Microsoft Surface RT), many of them with extraordinary features such as touch-enabled ultrabooks and convertible tablets. [caption id=“attachment_12261” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“http://windows.sg/"][/caption] Microsoft has launched 3 different versions of Windows 8 in Singapore comprising of Windows 8, Windows 8 Pro, and Windows 8 RT. Windows 8 RT will only be available on newer devices and existing devices will not be able to upgrade to it. You can find a comparison chart between the 3 Windows 8 editions here: Users with older versions of Windows, including XP, Vista, and 7, will be able to upgrade to Windows 8 with an upgrade going for S$49.99, available at http://windows.microsoft.com/. If you had purchased a Windows 7 PC between the 2nd of June, 2012 and the 31st of January, 2013, you will be able to download Windows 8 Pro at a discounted price of S$17.99 due to the Windows Upgrade Offer which is available at http://www.windowsupgradeoffer.com/. Windows 8 itself will retail at S$89.00. Apps are a major part of the new Windows 8 ecosystem. Beautifully constructed apps make up the Windows 8 ecosystem, with an amazing 4,433 apps available in the Singaporean Store at the time of writing. Some top apps available for Singaporeans right now are Channel NewsAsia, The Straits Times, SG Deal, MerlionWords, Photo Monkey, STOMP, Razor TV, SG Cab, NomWhere, My SingTel, StarHub, Wego.com, and iProperty. Over 900 people attended the Launch Party at the Esplanade, an overwhelming response to the invitation. There was a brilliant showcase of new devices on the Esplanade’s Roof Terrace, and many devices caught my attention with their aesthetic beauty and unbelievable specifications. [caption id=“attachment_12265” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_12263” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“ASUS VivoTab RT TF600”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_12262” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Acer Iconia W700”][/caption] Developers will be able to leverage on the easy and beautiful design principles that come with Windows 8 to get their apps ready to compete in the market. It is heartening to see Windows 8 launching with so many local apps already available, reflecting the hard work of our Singaporean developers that have been working so hard over the past few months, especially during the HackWeekends that were organized. I look forward to more apps coming up to populate the Windows Store, especially since Windows 8 is now readily available for everyone! See here for more information on developing for Windows 8 and why it’s “Not to be Missed”. If you have an idea for an app and would like to start developing, please join us at WOWZAPP, an upcoming worldwide Hackathon for Windows!

Windows 8 Hands on for Game Developers at Games Solution Center

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:38:13 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_12254” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Windows 8 Game Development Opportunities and Training at Games Solution Center. Register Now.”][/caption] The fact of the matter is; Windows is huge. There are 1.2 billion Windows users globally, with 690 million currently on Windows 7 who can upgrade to Windows 8 for a great price on October 26th. This is just the PCs. When you factor in the plethora of other devices from slates and phones to ultra-books and tablets on offer from a variety of manufacturers, Microsoft included, this is where the potential ecosystem gets even more exciting. The idea of taking one device from home and leisure to work and enterprise with seamless continuity and the ability to sync content, system settings and app settings over multiple devices is also a tantalising thought. Developers who are ahead of the pack can get unparalleled exposure for the forthcoming launch of Windows 8 on October 26th”, the arrival of Surface in the region and considering the exciting changes in the OS and the accessible upgrade price point – uptake is expected to be notably high. Come join us on November 8 as Microsoft Singapore’s Developer and Platform Evangelism team takes you through the Windows 8 game development process.

#WOWZAPP 2012, Worldwide Hackathon for Windows comes to Singapore

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 08:31:47 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_12247” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Click here to register for #WOWZAPP Singapore.”][/caption] Registration has launched for Microsoft’s WOWZAPP 2012, Worldwide Hackathon for Windows students, developers and entrepreneurs across countries and other types of developers across countries including Singapore, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Turkey, Finland, Chile and Greece. Developers will work in teams to develop apps that will be published and available for download in the Windows Store. WOWZAPP 2012: Worldwide Hackathon for Windows is an event that allows you to take part in a truly global experience – developers and designers all over the world coming together to build apps for Windows, Windows Phone and Windows Azure. WOWZAPP 2012 is on November 9-11, 2012, timed to celebrate the launch of Windows 8 and immediately after the Build conference to take advantage of all that fresh new information that will be delivered at that time. It’s also on the weekend before Global Entrepreneur Week so that startup developers can kick off that week with a bang. Expert Help, free resources Microsoft app experts, developers and trainers will be available to assist your learning and coding. Download the developer tools and resources now and get ready for action. Download at no charge to students and BizSpark members: Windows 8 Getting Started Guide Visual Studio 2012 Express for Windows 8

Skype for Windows 8 is here and it looks great

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 06:28:37 +0000

App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! Skype has become a service that I can’t live without. And the new Skype experience on Windows 8 is great. [caption id=“attachment_12237” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The new Skype for Windows 8 will be available come October 26th.”][/caption] Skype for Windows 8 places recent chats and calls front-and-center, as they’re the first things you’ll see when the app goes live. You can also build out a list of favorites, and these then appear on the app’s homescreen with big thumbnails next to your full list of contacts. To begin a call or chat, you simply tap or click on your friend’s profiles. These contacts are also integrated with Windows 8?s native People app, so all of your Skype’s contacts will display in this central address book, even if you had not created contacts for them. You can kick off Skype calls from the app itself, too, as contacts’ info will be updated with their Skype details when the app is installed. Note that this requires you to log into Skype using your Microsoft account. [caption id=“attachment_12239” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The Skype Home Screen”][/caption] Skype for Windows 8 also now includes an integrated dial pad for calling landlines, and shows the amount of Skype Credit you have remaining as well as your active subscriptions, if any. Recent calls display next to the dial pad, so you can easily phone your regular contacts again. [caption id=“attachment_12238” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The dial pad is right next to your recently made calls.”][/caption] With Windows 8 Skype is alive with your most important calls and conversations, whether on the start screen, snapped alongside your browser or full screen immersing you in a video call sharing an experience with someone you love. [caption id=“attachment_12241” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Snapped view makes it easier to chat and share information”][/caption] Skype for Windows 8 is simple, fast and beautiful. View the video below to see a sneak peek of the experience:

Why I Love Windows Server 2012 Part 2 - DHCP Failover

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 08:33:49 +0000

Well, we all know how important DHCP server is. It used to be difficult to create failover for DHCP server. In Windows Server 2012, this is super easy. You can pick any server (with DHCP role installed and Authorized) in your datacenter and create a DHCP failover partnership. You can configure this in two model Load Balance or Hot Standby. Do you need a cluster? No For a Single site deployment, it is pretty straight forward.

Windows 8 - Not to be Missed

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 04:51:15 +0000

Just how big is the Windows community? There are 1.2 billion Windows users globally, with 690 million currently on Windows 7. Microsoft has announced upgrade pricing for its upcoming Windows 8 operating system. Anyone running a copy of Windows from the last decade (Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7) can upgrade for USD40 - WOOTTT? SO CHEAP AND AFFORDABLE! With the plethora of new devices coming up with Windows 8 - from Notebooks, Slates, Convertibles, Ultrabooks, Tablets, etc - you can imagine how that number will grow. Want to be the next big app developer? You’ve got a golden opportunity to catch here. We’re just less than a week away (6 more days to go!) from the launch of Windows 8. I’m sure the resources that we’ve provided so far are more than enough for you to get started and submit your first Windows 8 app/game to the store. In my previous post -Lessons from Fruit Ninja Developer Dojo, Halfbrick mentioned that they’re excited about the launch of the new platforms, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 and the opportunities that the platforms would open up for developers. And here, I’ve gathered more compelling reasons to get you started:

Five lessons on Failure from FailCon

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 13:01:45 +0000

Behind every successful entrepreneur, is a couple of failed attempts.

Bill Gates will forever be remembered for starting Microsoft, but this was actually not his first business venture. Before Microsoft, Bill Gates and Paul Allen built a company called Traf-O-Data. They wanted to build a “computerized machine for processing paper tapes from traffic counters.” They planned to sell this computerized data to state and local governments, but failed because the product was unacceptably buggy. The experience gained in this venture would later be used to write Altair BASIC for the MITS Altair 8800 computer and start Microsoft. Paul Allen now refers to it as his favourite mistake.

Why I Love Windows Server 2012 Part 1 - IIS 8.0

Sat, 13 Oct 2012 07:37:27 +0000

Welcome to a blog series about Windows Server 2012. Recently many people asked me about what are the exciting things about Windows Server 2012 apart from Virtualization. Well, there are many of them. One thing probably left in the shadow of the over 375 new features is IIS 8.0. Let’s look at what are the improvements. Why do i care abou these new features? Here is a table how IIS 8.0 in Windows Server 2012 can address some challenges today. Let’s dive into each one of them

How to convert VHD to VHDx

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:01:47 +0000

We had a lot of people at our Windows Server 2012 local launch event on 26 Sep. Many attendees also at our IT Camps on Windows Server 2012 Deep Dive. Many people told me they really like what Windows Server 2012 is offering. One question has came up few times is how can I convert VHD running on Windows Server 2012 to VHDx format for Windows Server 2012? First of all, you can still use VHD format with Windows Server 2012. It is NOT compulsory to convert the format. There are some advantages to convert the format, for example to leverage on the new disk size up to 64TB :) Here are the steps Step 1: Go to the Hyper-V Manager. Under the Actions pane, click on Edit Disk… Step 2: Specify the path of the disk you want to convert and click Next. Step 3: Choose the second option to Convert the virtual disk from one type to another and click Next. Step 4: Choose the VHDX format and click Next Step 5: In this step, you can choose to also convert disk type, Fixed or Dynamically expanding. Step 6: Choose the location for the converted disk and click Next. Step 7: Finally, you can confirm the disk format, disk type and location of the newly converted and click Finish to begin the conversion. Last but not Least This can be easily done through PowerShell and automated. PowerShell Syntax: Convert-VHD [-Path] [-DestinationPath] [-AsJob] [-BlockSizeBytes ] [-ComputerName<String[]> ] [-DeleteSource] [-ParentPath ] [-Passthru][-VHDType ] [-Confirm] [-WhatIf][ ] Example PS C:\> Convert-VHD –Path c:\VMs\winsrv2008.vhd –DestinationPath c:\VMs\winsrv2008.vhdx

Game Contre Jour Comes to the Web via HTML5

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:09:19 +0000

If you loved Angry Birds, my guess is that you’re gonna love Contre Jour, a puzzle game that’s been recently very popular on iOS. The IE team has cooked up with the developers of Contre Jour to bring the popular game to the Web with HTML5. The Web-based version of Contre Jour, available now at Contrejour.ie, includes the first three chapters of the game, or 30 levels. It offers the same look, feel, and performance of the native app, complete with 10 levels exclusively for modern browsers that support multi-touch, like Internet Explorer 10. Contre Jour, which was named the 2011 iPad game of the year, is based on the French phrase “against daylight.” Set to an orchestrated soundtrack from composer David Ari Leon, the game challenges you to navigate and survive a dark and dangerous game world. Using your finger, you morph the landscape — by pulling, swiping, and tapping tendrils, air geysers, and pulleys — to complete clever puzzles and propel a mysterious creature named Petit to safety.

Developing Apps for SharePoint 2013

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 05:34:17 +0000

(From My SharePoint 2013 Ignite Notebook) Part 1 Think of SharePoint 2013 as a platform, which will help you understand this new paradigm shift. Lots of developers do programming using C#, Python, Ruby, Java, PHP, NodeJS. The SharePoint 2013 App model is based on web standards: HTML 5, CSS, JS, OAuth 2.0 and OData. Today SharePoint enables most of the SharePoint API functions to be accessible remotely, with the remote interface being much easier to maintain and more secure. This concept also opens doors for SharePoint Developers create Facebook kind of applications for SharePoint and Office. Today’s Application Development Challenges Till SharePoint 2010, solution deployment could only be done in either Sandbox or Farm Solutions,

Build 2012 Live Streaming and why you shouldn't miss out

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 19:13:46 +0000

Build is Microsoft’s Developer Conference that happens at our HQ in Redmond, Washington, USA. It’s the second year that we’re going to do Build. Tickets were sold out in less than an hour. And there’s good reason why. [caption id=“attachment_11725” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Live Streaming for Build happens on 30 October, 2012”][/caption] This year’s Build is going to have a strong focus on - wait for it - yup, Windows 8! At Build, we’ll dive deep to cover all the areas you care about. How to design and build beautiful Windows 8 apps. How to sell your apps in the Windows 8 Store and make money. And much more. Live streaming will be starting on October 30 at 9:00 am PST - which means October 31, Midnight - Singapore time! Tune in at http://www.buildwindows.com/ . Agenda will be updated soon!

TouchDevelop lets you develop apps on Mobile Devices

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:28:36 +0000

Mobile devices are becoming the prevalent computing platform for most people. Not every has access to a PC, which is why it’s important for us to come up with new ways for them to develop apps for themselves and the problems that they are facing in their countries. A cool new research project that the researchers here at Microsoft have been working on is called Touch Develop. TouchDevelop is a new mobile development environment that enables anyone with a Windows Phone to create new apps directly on the smartphone, without a PC or a traditional keyboard. At the core is a new mobile programming language and editor that was designed with the touchscreen as the only input device in mind. Programs written in TouchDevelop can leverage all phone sensors such as GPS, cameras, accelerometer, gyroscope, and stored personal data such as contacts, songs, pictures. Thousands of programs have already been written and published with TouchDevelop. It’s been amazing looking at the apps that some of the students from all over the world. [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“320” caption=“Pacman Evolved by Chris Kurhan”][/caption] Check out more of the apps created by Touch Develop on the Windows Phone 7: https://www.touchdevelop.com/apps Visit the Touch Develop website to find out more!

Spiffy Giveaway - Win exclusive Fruit Ninja plushies when you submit your app ideas to us!

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 03:06:29 +0000

Only 16 more days before Windows 8 is officially launched! We know you’ve got some amazing app ideas and dreams for Windows 8. To celebrate, we’d like to know what they are and reward you with some adorable prizes for sharing them with us! Here’s what you gotta do to win these adorable Fruit Ninja Plush Toys (worth $15 USD each.)

Follow these 3 simple steps to win these adorable Fruit Ninja Plush Toys!

Step 1: Like our Spiffy Facebook Page [http://facebook.com/gospiffy] Step 2: Share this picture on your Facebook Timeline. Step 3: Leave a comment on this picture. Starting with the sentence: My idea for a Windows 8 app is to … [complete the sentence with the purpose of your app].

Whats New In AD DS For Windows Server 2008

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 03:27:53 +0000

Welcome to TechNet Spotlight ! This series features the audio version of Microsoft TechNet for Directory Services. This series focus on Product Evaluation, Planning and

Architecture, Solutions and Design , Deployment, Operations and Real World scenarios for Best Practices. We start our series on Active Directory Domain Service Product Evaluation. Below are the videos which explain about the new Features and Functionalities got introduced for AD DS for Windows Server 2008. Introducing Active Directory Domain Services for Windows Server 2008 AD DS Auditing AD DS Fine Grained Password Policies AD DS Read Only Domain Controllers AD DS Restartable Active Directory Domain Services AD DS Database Mounting Tool **AD DS

Server Posterpedia - Windows 8 App for IT Pro

Sat, 06 Oct 2012 07:28:57 +0000

For IT Professionals, we all like components architecture. I certainly do. There is really not a very easy way to put all these server architecture posters together into a organized way to view and access whenever needed. Now there is a Windows 8 App for it! If you are running Windows 8 already you can get the app from the Windows Store here: http://aka.ms/sposterpedia One thing i love most about this app is it connects to TechNet resources. From each product architecture poster, I can view technical documents on TechNet like

Spiffy attends a web development conference in Japan

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 07:45:36 +0000

Konnichiwa! I am currently based in Japan and I was kindly invited to attend Pycon Japan 2012 that is held from 15th September to 17th September at Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology located at Shinagawa, Tokyo. Here’s a brief account of my adventure at my 1st developer conference in Japan. It was a great Saturday morning at 9am in Shinagawa, Tokyo. The Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology is the host venue for Pycon Japan 2012. After walking for 5 minutes from the Shinagawa Seaside Train Station, I finally reached the venue. It was an exciting sight to see the sheer amount of Pycon passes available for collection by the eager participants from all over Asia. I was so excited about the event that I arrived at the main event hall 30 minutes before the start of Pycon Japan 2012. Here’s a closer look at my press invite for the event. At 9:30am, Pycon Japan 2012 is officially opened. The main theme of the convention is to connect and communicate with fellow developers and to share our ideas freely. Everyone embraced the idea of communicating ideas freely during the convention and proceeded to introduce ourselves to each other. The keynote of Pycon Japan 2012 is “Happiness Through Ignorance” by Armin Ronacher. I felt that the keynote was inspiring as it encourages everyone to have the courage to try our ideas. The most important part of developing an idea is the journey and what we can learn from it. We should not be too concerned with failing or else we would never develop or create anything. And of course, Armin also highlighted our love for Python, which is easy to learn and fun to use. After the end of the keynote, everyone dispersed to their respective Japanese and English sessions for the day. A big thank you to the Pycon Japan committee and Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology for a successful convention. I had a great time at the convention and I will be returning for Pycon Japan 2013. Here’s the Youtube video for Pycon Japan 2012 keynote speech by Armin Ronacher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EDlFk1hc8kc Other Pycon Japan 2012 Youtube videos are located at: http://www.youtube.com/user/PyConJP Pycon Japan 2012 information are located at: http://2012.pycon.jp/en/index.html Here’s also a quick python trick for setting up on Windows Azure! All you need to do is go to this link http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/develop/python/and you can start implementing a simple Hello World application written in the Django Python web framework and deploy the application to Windows Azure! Have fun! What do you think of Pycon Japan 2012? Do you have other great tech 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!

Read all your favourite news on App of the Week Pulse.me

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 06:50:22 +0000

App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! One of my favourite apps to read news on the web is Pulse.me. Pulse started as a beautiful app which pulls content from thousands of news sources and blogs bringing together a customized view of your favorite content in one stunning experience. The success of the app was, and continues to be, phenomenal. With Internet Explorer and HTML5 that beautiful app experience has come to the web – all without compromising the performance, or the award winning UI. And because IE10 and Windows 8 are perfect for touch – the Pulse touch experience on a Windows 8 device surpasses anything you can do on today’s tablet. The Pulse site is part of an exciting new trend we’re seeing: companies that have built successful apps are looking to expand their reach even more through the web, without compromising the experience their customers have grown to love. Tapping into the capabilities of a modern browser, like IE10, and advancements in web standards, companies like Pulse are able to provide users with an experience that meets, and may even exceed, what is possible in an app. Check it out: For quick access to the pulse.me application, all you need to do is to pin the app from your IE browser. That way, you can access it as an app on your Windows 8 Start screen. Have fun reading everyone!

PowerShell Scripts for MEP2012 Session on Windows Server 2012

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 13:22:23 +0000

Thank you everyone for your warm participation in our MEP2012 event. It was great to see the breakout sessions were filled with people. Due to keynote overrun, we went through things rather quickly. As promised, I am posting all PowerShell Scripts during my session here. Do change the scripts parameters that is specific to your environment To enable Resource Metering for all VMs within a host: Get-VM -ComputerName | Enable-VMResourceMetering To enable Resource Metering for a specific VM: Enable-VMResourceMetering –VMName To get resource utilization on all VMs within a Host Get-VM -ComputerName | Measure-VM To get resource utilization on specific VM Measure-VM –VMName To set bandwidth on each VM Set-VMNetworkAdapter -VMName -MaximumBandwidth 5000 During the Demo, I also showed a script to get VM cost. Here is the script # Get-VMCost Script Function function Calculate-VMCost($VMName) { $BaseCost = 50 $MemoryCostPerGB = 20 $ProcessorCostPerGHz = 30 $IncomingNetworkCostPerGB = 10 $OutgoingNetworkCostPerGB = 30 $ChargebackData = Measure-VM $VMName Get-VM $VMName | Reset-VMResourceMetering $VMCost = $BaseCost $VMCost += $ChargebackData.AverageMemoryUsage * $MemoryCostPerGB / 1024 $VMCost += $ChargebackData.AverageProcessorUsage * $ProcessorCostPerGHz / 1024 $IncomingExternalTraffic = $data.NetworkMeteredTrafficReport | ? { ($_.Direction -eq “Inbound” ) -and ($_.RemoteAddress -eq “*.*”)} $OutgoingExternalTraffic = $data.NetworkMeteredTrafficReport | ? { ($_.Direction -eq “Outbound” ) -and ($_.RemoteAddress -eq “*.*”)} $VMCost += $IncomingExternalTraffic.TotalTraffic * $IncomingNetworkCostPerGB / 1024 $VMCost += $OutgoingExternalTraffic.TotalTraffic * $OutgoingNetworkCostPerGB / 1024 $VMCost } # Calculate VM Cost Calculate-VMCost

Here's where to look if you want to build a game for Windows 8

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 02:30:32 +0000

A new platform always means a great deal of opportunity for game developers. Windows 8, is that new platform. So you want to build a game for Windows 8? Well we want to make it as easy as possible for you to do so. That’s why we thought it would be a good idea to compile all the resources we could into one place, so you can spend your time coding, not googling. We’ve got everything you need to get going, from initial guides to the platform, to detailed guides on making the most of DirectX. And not forgetting that final important step, making some money from your hard work.

Terms and Conditions for the “Download & Win with Windows Server 2012”

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 06:57:54 +0000

Terms and Conditions for the “Download & Win with Windows Server 2012” Contest (the “Contest”)

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS (THESE “TERMS AND CONDITIONS”) BEFORE ENTERING THE CONTEST. THIS IS A LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND MICROSOFT SINGAPORE (“MICROSOFT”) ESTABLISHING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH YOU ARE ENTITLED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST. BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO ABIDE BY, THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, AND YOU SPECIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE CONTEST IS IN NO WAY SPONSORED, ENDORSED OR ADMINISTERED BY, OR ASSOCIATED WITH, FACEBOOK. 1. Organizer. The Contest is organized by Microsoft. 2. Eligibility. 2.1 General Eligibility Requirements

Discover new music and enjoy old favorites with App of the Week SG Radio

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 06:18:07 +0000

Radio is a big part of life here in Singapore. Growing up with Jean Danker and Glenn Ong previously on 98.7fm, I can’t imagine what my school nights mugging would have been like without them dishing our my favourite tunes and reading all our adolescent dedications. Now that they’ve shifted to Class 95fm, it only feels right that I make the move with them as well! If you’re not in Singapore, or in your car or have a radio near you, there are still a few ways to tune in to your favourite stations, such as through XinMSN, but it just got a whole lot easier with our App of the Week! [caption id=“attachment_11500” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“SG Radio is one of the newest apps to hit the Windows Store!”][/caption] SG Radio provides the Internet-based streaming for all 17 of Singapore’s Radio Stations. Streaming will continue in the background allowing you to work on other apps or your desktop while continuing to listen to the Radio! [caption id=“attachment_11505” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Tune in to your favourite music channels on SG Radio”][/caption] You can download SG Radio by quickly searching for “SG Radio” on the Windows Store. [caption id=“attachment_11512” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Just search for SG Radio on the Windows Store to download it.”][/caption] You can view more Windows Phone and Windows 8 applications from Jason, who happens to also be one of our Spiffy.sg writers!

Migrate Existing DHCP Server to Windows Server 2012 easily with PowerShell

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:46:49 +0000

Yea, I like Windows Server 2012, but how do I migrate migrate existing DHCP Server to Windows Server 2012 easily with PowerShell from Windows Server 2008 or 2008R2 and leverage the new DHCP failover feature? This can be done easily with the new Windows Server 2012 PowerShell cmdlets. Here is how:

Preparation

First, Install Windows Server 2012 as a VM or on physical host as you prefer in your environment. Install DHCP role and authorize the DHCP server. For example, I have a DHCP server sits on my Primary DC: WS2012VMDC01.sgmic.com. I install another VM as secondary DC:WS2012VMDC02.sgmic.com. After enable the DHCP server role, go to Windows Server 2012 and create two folders one for export and one for import. In my case, I created folder c:\export and c:\dhcp on the new DHCP server WS2012VMDC02.sgmic.com

How to install Microsoft Office 2013 in a few simple steps

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 08:08:41 +0000

I was looking for a preview link to download MSI for Office 2013 Preview bits. To much of my surprise when I go to official Microsoft Preview site, it only gives me links to explore Office 365 version. There is also no mention of MSI. Finally when I searched few websites, I found the link to download the bits and successfully download Office 2013. The link is https://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/pd/Office2013Preview/enus/ —- THIS IS BROKEN. NO MORE WORKING. You will need to login with your Live/Hotmail or Outlook.com ID to obtain the download. Happy Experimenting! Update: 9/12/2012 It seems Microsoft has changed the way Office 2013 is going to be distributed to users. Here are the steps to get Office 2013 installed on your machine: 1. Go to http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/en 2. Click on Try 3. Select appropriate category from “For Home”, “For Small Business” or “For Enterprise”. I selected for small business for myself. I wanted to try out the enterprise features as well so I created one more account later (:) 4. Once you complete the account registration process and log in to your account at (https://portal.microsoftonline.com/), you will see the dashboard similar to the image below: 5. Click on the Download Software Link 6. On the next screen you will see the language and version selection as displayed below: 7. You are almost there. You will need internet connection throughout the installation. Once you get the one click installer, it will download the required software and install it on your machine. 8. I have installed Office 2013, it looks like below on Windows Server 2012

Casual conversations at Fruit Ninja #DevDojo

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:52:11 +0000

I had the pleasure of attending Part 1 of the Fruit Ninja Developer Workshop on 14 September, held in Sauce Bar at the Esplanade. The men of the hour who had just flown in from Brisbane - Richard McKinny (Chief Technical Officer) and Phil Larsen (Chief Marketing Officer) of Halfbrick - said a quick hello after opening the event, allowing the many participants to mingle over drinks and finger food catered for the game development enthusiasts. One such attendee was Joshua Cheong, 21, a current Information Systems major from the pioneer batch of the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). Currently developing a game called Slash The Snowflake in Objective C, he decided to sign up for the workshop given the similarities it shared with Fruit Ninja. Mingling with other developers, he also said, was a good opportunity for sharing and exchanging unique ideas. Another enthusiastic participant was Jeff Lim, a Senior Lead Engineer in his 30s at Lucasfilm Singapore. It was hard to find local developers, he said, explaining that he had come to get to know more of such like-minded programmers on the ground. Jeff mentioned that the gold-rush era of Zygna and their particular breed of social games was over, and the gaming community was trending towards developing individual titles on a much larger scale. Given the fact that “consumers are becoming more discerning and picky with how they spend their time”, even current development of casual games has taken this mindset shift into account with the inclusion of sleek graphics and clever mechanics despite a simpler premise. Something most developers at the event seemed to agree on was using iOS as a sort of “testing ground” for an app before releasing it on other platforms. Whether this trend continues, however, remains to be seen.

Lessons from Fruit Ninja Developer Dojo

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 16:00:06 +0000

Developers gather at Sauce Bar for Day 1 of Fruit Ninja Dev Dojo

Day 1 of Fruit Ninja #DevDojo proved to be a great evening with so much interaction amongst the participants, sharing their their passion on game development. Everybody, including me, was looking forward to getting to know the success story of Halfbrick and its famous game with more than 300 million downloads - Fruit Ninja.

Registration began at 6pm.

Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework releases Sample Browser that allows developers to search and download 3500+ code samples

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:05:41 +0000

Developers love code samples. [caption id=“attachment_11406” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Sample Browser Visual Studio Extension allows developers to search and download 3500+ code samples from within Visual Studio 2012 and Visual Studio 2010. It is provided by Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework”][/caption] Samples often serve as the starting point for many developers to learn a new technology. They also provide straightforward solutions and helpful references when we as developers need to solve tough programming tasks. Some developers even live by code samples. In partnership with Visual Studio Product Team and MSDN Samples Gallery Team, Microsoft All-In-One Code Framework releases Sample Browser Visual Studio Extension for Visual Studio 2012 and Visual Studio 2010 - an effort to evolve the code sample use experience. You can search and download 3500+ Microsoft official code samples and community samples, including over 700 Windows 8 samples and more than 1000 All-In-One Code Framework customer-driven code samples. With its integrated sample search, flexible sample download and more than ten useful features designed for easier access and management of code samples, we hope to put the power of tens of thousands of code samples at developers’ fingertips. Have fun experimenting with the different samples! Download the Sample Browser Visual Studio Extension.

Windows 8 Game On - Quick Start and Game Development Workshop

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 02:50:22 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_11393” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Fruit Ninja Dev Dojo is just the start of our Windows 8 activities for game developers here in Singapore!”][/caption] Hey Ninjas, We hope you had a fruitful session learning with Shainiel, Phil and Richard about the latest game development techniques and useful marketing strategies at Fruit Ninja Developer Dojo. You can look out for the slides and videos from the event right here at Spiffy! Photos from the event can also be found on our Facebook Page.

Prepare for Windows Server 2012 with new Technical Resources on MVA

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 04:36:47 +0000

Windows Server 2012 RTM is now available. You can download it and try it out at: http://aka.ms/winsrv2012 This is the best time for IT professionals who works on windows server to learn about the new Windows Server 2012 which is rebuilt from grand up. With the launch of Windows Server 2012, there are some great changes coming to http://microsoftvirtualacademy.com A new design to help you find the contents easier. More importantly, brand new in depth Windows Server 2012 Technical Sessions are now available! Courses:

Windows Store is now open for app submissions

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 16:36:42 +0000

Woohoo! It’s finally open! The Windows Store is now open for app submissions from all developers – individuals and companies – the last significant milestone in the rollout of the Windows Store before general availability of Windows 8 on October 26. If you’ve been waiting for invitation restrictions to lift or waiting for market support, the Windows Store is ready for you to join today. Just go to the Windows Store Dashboard on the Windows Dev Center and sign up. To top it off, all paid MSDN subscribers will receive a Windows Store subscription included, at no additional cost. Please visit the Windows Store Blog for full details. The dev tools are free, the SDK is ready, and we have a ton of great supporting content to help you build your app and submit it for Store certification. Sign up now, reserve your app names, and get your app published in the Store in time for general availability of Windows 8. Good luck!

Super WIFI and what it's got to do with you

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:07:55 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_11372” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Image Credit: modmyi.com”][/caption] Microsoft, StarHub and the Institute for Infocomm Research (I2R), announced last week the first series of commercial trials of “Super Wi-Fi” with six other new partners. Super Wifi actually taps on unused television broadcast frequency bands. These low-frequency bands are able to travel longer distances and penetrate more obstacles, which can translate to better coverage, lower power consumption, and reduced network costs. What is Super WIFI Governments create rules designating how radio frequencies can be used and, over the years, have assigned radio and television stations to certain blocks or “channels” of frequency in the spectrum. Limitations in transmission technology and the high costs to cover rural populations have led to gaps in the TV broadcasting bands. For decades, the hiss of “white noise” was familiar to anyone tuning a television from one channel to another — traversing the empty “white spaces” between TV broadcast frequencies. This situation remains today. While some white spaces in the TV band are dedicated for uses such as radio-frequency telescopes, other spaces lie vacant. On the other hand, the radio spectrum used by mobile phones and other wireless communications devices is becoming overpopulated. Growth in demand for applications, such as TV streaming, internet access, voice calling, music services and video downloads, are overloading the spectrum used by wireless communications devices. TV white spaces (TVWS) enable organisations to look at under-utilized spectrum currently used primarily for broadcast services, to be used for broadband more cheaply (up to 1/10 the price) and for longer distances (up to 4x). Just as the title of this email suggests, it enables data to flow without the need for line of sight, to areas where WiFi cannot connect today. This space is currently unregulated by policy and through this SWSPG, Singapore is paving the way regionally & globally to develop exciting commercial opportunities to evolve through close collaboration with IDA. The three projects introduced will explore how this new technology, also known as TV White Spaces (TVWS), can supplement existing wireless infrastructure and maximise spectrum efficiency, in order to benefit consumers and businesses, and introduce a new class of wireless connectivity to Singapore. Key Benefits of Super Wifi StarHub is piloting the use of the technology to provide better offshore communication to the many ships that anchor near Changi, while Power Automation, a joint venture between Singapore Power and Siemens, is deploying it in smart grid solutions in National University of Singapore’s University Town. The explosive growth of wireless data traffic in recent years (just think about all the smartphones you see on the MRT!) has been putting severe strain on current mobile and Wi-Fi network infrastructure, necessitating better management of radio frequency spectrum through policy and technology innovations like TVWS.

First IT Camp on Windows Server 2012 Deep Dive

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 05:19:51 +0000

With the Windows Server 2012 goes RTM on 4th Sep, we also had our first IT Camp on Windows Server 2012 in Singapore. IT Camp is a global event by Microsoft to help IT Pros to learn and experience new technologies from Microsoft. It was a great first IT Camp on Windows Server 2012. At the Camp, there is very few slides. All we do is hands-on with the VMs and Whiteboarding about how Windows Server 2012 works. There were many good discussions. If you have not signed up for IT Camp, You can still register through: http://weshipcode.com/it-camps-series-is-back/ Looking forward to see you there! If you want to try on your own, download Windows Server 2012 RTM at http://aka.ms/winsrv2012

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Attend Fruit Ninja #DevDojo

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:59:25 +0000

Fruit Ninja Developer Dojo, is an exclusive event catered to game developers and those interested in game development. Halfbrick, one of the world’s most successful indie game studios with more than 100 million downloads for acclaimed game Fruit Ninja, will be sharing about their game development strategies, best practices, marketing tactics and much more in this 2 day event. Here are the top 5 reasons why you should attend!

Introducing the Nokia Lumia 920, Nokia's flagship device for Windows Phone 8

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:20:43 +0000

On the 5th Sep, at 10pm Singapore time, Nokia and Microsoft co-hosted a press event for the new Nokia Lumia Devices and Windows Phone 8 Operating System. Making a debut in striking color, the opening video showcased a blown up schematic of the Lumia 920. With a huge 4.5 inch curved glass screen similar to Lumia 800, Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, Pureview Camera and a battery with great capability at 2000mAh. Moving along the PureView technology has to be the single most greatest feature in the Lumia 920 (Well, I really love photography, so this is very interesting to me). When you take pictures with smartphones, there are great challenges when doing so in low lit conditions. The result is motion blur and shaky images. Of course there are algorithms to correct blurred images and flashlight to counter these challenges, but the quality is often diminished from flat pictures that are washed out from direct flash photography. The best alternative would be to carry a DSLR or powerful compact camera specialized for night shots. Then again, the best camera is always the one you have. Instead of pushing the ISO or simply increase the exposure after the picture is taking, hardware innovation is being done on the Lumia 920. The Lumia 920 solves these issues with PureView technology. While the Lumia 920 does not have 41mp super-sampling found in its previous generation of phone, it has a different set of hardware. There is build-in hardware image stabilizer into the phone itself. This is not a typical digital image stabilizer algorithm, but similar technology found in DSLR image stabilizing lenses. The Lumia 920 uses “floating lens” method to increase the amount of light captured onto the image sensor. Oh did I mention that it spots a Carl Zeiss Lens at f/2.0 aperture? :) As the picture above, the floating lens technology not only works for picture taking, but for videos as well. The 2nd functionality coming from PureView technology would be high dynamic range. Taking pictures or videos in backlit conditions often results in under exposed subjects. In the teaser video below, you can see the image stabilizer and HDR algorithm from PureView technology working pretty well. Moving forward to software , there are major improvements in key applications in Nokia’s exclusive bundle. Offline maps will be available in Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive. These would not be just cached map images or tiles, but stored locally onto the phone itself. The Nokia Transport improvement would include walking distances between stations. Announcing a new addition to the Nokia application suite, Nokia City Lens provides an augmented reality view of your surrounds for places of interest. The usefulness of Nokia City Lens proves itself first with it’s integrated into Nokia Maps as a very first. What about the screen? Beneath the Curved Glass, the PureMotion HD+ display boost a highest screen refresh rate (at time of post) compared to any other phones in market now. There will be lesser flickering and sharper fonts for reading. Above the display, the glass is polarized to reduce the effect of glare under direct sun to give a better, contrast-y viewing experience on the Lumia 920. With so much new electronic parts and circuitry, won’t the Lumia 920 be a power consuming beast? Spotting a power efficient Snapdragon S4 and a high capacity battery rated at 2000mAh, the Lumia 920 promise to be ready to cater to everyday usage. Moreover, charging will be less of a hassle with wireless charging (qi - industry standard wireless charging) capabilities built into the Lumia 920 Nokia aims to start the ball rolling with the introduction of wireless charging technology equipped in the Lumia 920. The Coffee Bean and Virgin Atlantic in select countries will offer wireless charging station base on the “qi” wireless charging standards. Back to my favourite topic of Photography, Windows Phone 8 offer “Lenses” capability. Think of them as interchangeable SLR lens, but applications that takes over the viewfinder instead. With different applications, they are able to make use of the camera in different manner in a innovative way. Example Photosynth allows the user to take and view photos in a 3D environment. Blink allows users to take multiple photos of an identical scene, for the purpose of removing unwanted objects or passerby for the picture perfect framing.

Internet Explorer and The XX: Making art on the web

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 05:05:52 +0000

I’ve been a fan of The XX since they released their first album last 2009. Young artists, their songs are just a great escape from the usual regurgitated pop songs out there. Yesterday, the Internet Explorer blog posted their new collaboration with The XX. Creating a simple and beautiful HTML 5 site, The XX’s new album, Co-Exist, can be streamed for free from the plug-in free site. From here you can view how many people are sharing their new album all over the world, a testament to the global outreach of the world wide web. I love how The XX is embracing the web and streaming their album for free. You can still buy their album in different forms, (MP3, CD, LP) but I know streaming their album for free won’t affect their sales any one bit. And yes, I did pre-order the album ;) If this is your first time hearing about The XX, share with us what you think. You’ll only hear a song for the first time once so make sure you embrace the moment. Listen and share their album at coexist.thexx.info/

Microsoft holding its biggest ever partner briefing in Singapore

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 07:33:15 +0000

Microsoft is embarking on its most ambitious product revamp in history. We’re launching or updating Windows, Windows Phone, Windows Azure, Windows Server, SQL Server, Visual Studio 2012, and Office in the next few months. That’s just on the software side. We’re also looking at Surface, Xbox SmartGlass, and other Microsoft hardware. We’re even revamping our online services like Outlook.com and Office 365. It’s time to get in-sync with all that’s going on. To kick start this next wave here in Singapore, we’re inviting all partners to join us in our Mega Partner Briefing happening next week at MAX Atria@Singapore EXPO, 12 Sept, 8:45am - 5:30pm. It’s gonna be packed with visionary speeches, market trend updates, technology and product innovations, deep dives, and much, much more. The afternoon breakout sessions are gonna be very interesting. There are 2 tracks dedicated to developers: ISV & SI Deep Dive and Cloud Deep Dive. Register Now! I’ll see you there.

Play classic Atari games on the web in HTML5 with multitouch support

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 06:52:40 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_11239” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Play classic Atari games are immortalized now on Atari Arcade”][/caption] Forty years ago, Atari revolutionized entertainment and jumpstarted the gaming industry by releasing its first arcade game – Pong. Besides Pong, you may also remember other classical Atari games such as Missile Command, Lunar Lander and Centipede. Last week, the Internet Explorer team announced the launch of Atari Arcade, a new partnership between Microsoft and Atari to bring all of these nostalgic games to the web through the power of HTML5. Games like Pong, Asteroids, Super Breakout and Yars’ Revenge – all reimagined with HTML5 and new multi-player capabilities – come to life on a Windows 8 touch device and IE10. Of course, it also works great in IE9, or on any other modern browser. Bonus: You’ll be able to play against your Facebook friends. The games are free and, yes, they’re just as addictive as you remember. “What you really want to be able to do is have a series of games that you think, ‘Gee, I’ve got 10 minutes before I need to pick up the kids from school, and of course, an hour later, the kids are waiting on the curb,’ ” says Atari founder Nolan Bushnell in a behind-the-scenes video about the new project, below. Developers, game on! For developers, the team has created an opportunity to build your own games for the Atari Arcade platform. An Atari software development kit is available in the developer behind the scenes section of the site, along with new and updated versions of JavaScript libraries (Create.js, Easel.js, Sound.js) and new tutorials for building HTML5 games. All code is available on our IE GitHub repo here. Check it out!

The Microsoft Touch Mouse is the one mouse to rule them all

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 05:50:53 +0000

Product Reviews are a series of blog posts where Spiffy writers test out various awesome and cool products and give your a first hand experience of using them! Being the result of a famous Microsoft research project, the Microsoft Touch Mouse has been put onto shelves for more than one year. Its distinctive design and multi-touch capabilities have successfully differentiated it from other mice. Recently, Microsoft has also confirmed its plan to provide further support for Touch Mouse on its forthcoming Windows 8 platform. Being so highly anticipated, would Microsoft Touch Mouse manage to retain its distinctiveness on Windows 8? Is Microsoft Touch Mouse really the one peripheral that could make a difference on both operating systems? Read on to find out. Look and feel Microsoft Touch Mouse is just eye-catching. The curved design and colour scheme makes you believe that the mouse has been crafted out of one piece of plastic. It is relatively longer than normal mice, leaving more space for you to rest your palm on. There is no obvious left/right button on Touch Mouse, rather, the front surface, which occupies more than half of the entire mouse, is meant for touch input. A matrix of dots and crosses known as “capacitive touch-sensing electrodes” can be found on the touch-input surface so that you could easily tell whether you have performed a gesture on the right place. The curved surface is frosted to create the necessary resistance for easier gesture performing. It also feels more stylish when the surface is not as polished or reflective. The bottom is largely dominated by white colour, which sort of destroys the unity design. Other than the battery cover in the middle, one transceiver slot can be also found at the bottom of Touch Mouse. The inclusion of this transceiver slot increases the portability of the mouse and decreases the chance of losing the transceiver. Ergonomics With a longer body, Microsoft Touch Mouse provides alternative ways of holding the mouse. You could either choose to fully rest your fingers on the surface (thanks to the large touch-input area) or to put half of your palm comfortably on the body of Touch Mouse. Whichever position you are holding the mouse, the curved surface would fit your palm nicely (provided that everything is in static state), creating the comfort that could hardly be enjoyed for a smaller-sized portable mouse. However, using a gesture-recognition touch mouse is a tremendously different experience compared with using a traditional mouse. Since you need to move your palm position from time to time when performing gestures, it still feels a bit tiring after using Touch Mouse for a long period of time. An all-new ergonomics design specifically for touch-enabled mice might be needed to solve the problem. Bluetrack Microsoft Touch Mouse does a good job recognizing various gestures on top and it does an equally satisfactory job recognizing the surface underneath. The blue laser emitted for tracking the movement of Touch Mouse is using an advanced Microsoft technology called BlueTrack. It provides accurate and sensitive tracking performance on theoretically any non-reflective surface. In real-life cases, Touch Mouse works pretty reliably on most surfaces – wooden tables, plastic surfaces and marble platforms. It is also usable on carpets and bedsheets, provided that you would like to use a mouse at those places. With Microsoft Touch Mouse, you can safely throw away any of those old-fashioned mouse pads. Gestures for Windows 7 After the supporting software (called “IntelliPoint”) is installed, Microsoft Touch Mouse can then be truly called as a “Touch” mouse. Four different gestures can be detected and this is when the magic begins. One finger gesture: The absence of a scrolling wheel would not bother you much as you can scroll up and down with one finger thanks to the one-finger gesture. In fact, one-finger gesture serves more than a scrolling wheel and it operates in a way pretty much the same as a touchpad. Flicking left or right will roll the page to the left or right as you would expect. With a quick swipe of your finger on the touch surface, you could scroll the page quickly in any of the four directions. A simple tap would stop the scrolling as you would normally experience on a touch screen device. Two finger gesture: Finding it too troublesome dealing with multiple windows? Microsoft Touch Mouse makes it easier by recognizing several unique two-finger gestures. Pushing two fingers forward will maximize the current window whereby pulling them backwards will minimize the window. If you are a fan of multi-tasking, you would find yourself frequently sliding two fingers to the side. This gesture will move the window-of-focus to the left or right side of the screen as you desire, which is essentially equivalent to the hotkey combo of Win + Left/Right. Three finger gesture: Power users would usually encounter a problem if too many applications are running at the same time – switching between applications becomes really painful as more than one set of Alt + Tab might be required before the desired window floats to the surface. Touch Mouse offers you a quick way to oversee all active applications by pushing three fingers forward. Snapshots of windows are nicely arranged on the screen so you could easily pick application you want. If you would like to return to the desktop from the jungle of various applications, drawing three fingers backwards would do the job. Thumb gesture: Our thumbs are normally left unused when using a mouse (save for some gaming mice). But the designers of Microsoft Touch Mouse have found a place where your lack-of-exercise thumbs could indeed enhance your productivity. There is, however, only one simple gesture for thumb – sweeping up and down for forward and backward navigation. This gesture has specialized function in different applications, for example, in picture viewer it means next/preview photo and in web browser it operates like page navigation. Working with Windows 8 With the brand new Windows 8 just around the corner, Microsoft has also released its future plan to support Microsoft Touch Mouse on the freshly baked new operating system. After installing the supporting software called “Mouse and Keyboard Centre”, you are ready to use multi-finger gestures on Touch Mouse. On Windows 8, Touch Mouse still recognizes all gestures that can be found on Windows 7 (scrolling, forward/backward and app management) and it offers more customization for app-specific controls. Under the “app-specific settings” sector, you can specify the commands you would like to perform when clicking on certain buttons inside certain applications. For example, you can customize your right button with zoom-in functional such that when clicking on it inside Internet Explorer the webpage can be enlarged. Upon the official launch of Windows 8, Touch Mouse will receive more functions in Windows 8 Modern UI mode (which used to be called “Metro”) and become even more powerful. Some detailed gestures would include: two-finger left swiping to show Windows Charm bar, two-finger right swiping to switch between apps, two-finger forward sliding to show app commands and three-finger swiping to zoom in/out of app list. The addition of these gestures will definitely make users feel more at home when interacting with Windows 8 using mice and keyboards. Wrap up Microsoft Touch Mouse is a remarkable milestone in Microsoft’s hardware product line. Other than its distinctive design (which definitely will help you win some eye balls), the innovation of migrating a touchpad onto the mouse surface opens a new window for human-computer interfacing. However, as a pilot product in a new category, Microsoft Touch Mouse is definitely not without flaws. A few issues should be resolved before a perfect touch mouse can be built. In the case of Touch Mouse, one major issue that I found could affect usability is with its ergonomics design. But Microsoft Touch Mouse has definitely gotten it right in the key features with its first attempt. With even better support on Windows 8, Touch Mouse can deliver greater performance as its potential getting further utilized. Microsoft Touch Mouse might have just set the tune for future mouse design and we do look forward to more innovative products from the category of touch-enabled mouse. Previous Product Review Posts: Product Review: $7 Fish Eye Lens from eBay

How to get involved in Windows Server 2012 Launch Week

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 19:11:14 +0000

1. Try and Learn about Windows Server 2012

Download and try out Windows Server 2012 Building your own lab environment is the best way to REALLY learn new technology! To prepare you with the ability to build your own lab, you can download the Windows Server 2012 installation bits here for FREE!

Learn about Windows Server 2012 through FREE online learning portal Microsoft Virtual Academy - MVA is a learning experience focusing on Microsoft Technologies. You will learn how to cloud optimize your IT with Windows Server 2012 and how to take advantage of the skills and investment you have already made in building a familiar and consistent platform

Meet the Halfbrick Team at Fruit Ninja Developer Dojo on 14 and 15 September

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 03:59:56 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_11076” align=“aligncenter” width=“580” caption=“Register now for Fruit Ninja Developer Dojo (Cost: $50 for both sessions)”][/caption] Microsoft and E27 are proud to present Fruit Ninja Developer Dojo. When it comes to developing world famous games, no one knows better than the masters at Halfbrick. The senseis are here to show you the way of the ninja for casual game development in the exclusive networking session and workshop.

Product Review: $7 Fish Eye Lens from eBay

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:54:50 +0000

This is a new series of blog post titled “Product Reviews” where we will be testing out various products and posting reviews on them.

In this first series of “Product Reviews” post, we will look at the Fish Eye Lens for Mobile Phone available on eBay. I initially came across this lens via word of mouth from a Microsoft Student Partner named Phyo during NDP Hackathon. You can check out Phyo’s blog here. While he managed to purchase this locally, I went ahead to a very popular e-commerce site :) to look for the keywords “mobile phone fish eye lens”. While there are numerous sellers offering seemingly identical product, what you want to do would be to sort by lowest price + shipping as shown below. Look for those with “Buy It Now” and proceed to checkout the item via Credit Card or Paypal. From experience, shipping will take around 2-4 weeks depending on different sellers and location of the goods. How does this attach to your mobile phone? Samsung Omnia Front with Fish Eye Lens on the side Magnetic Ring is double sided taped to the back of the Samsung Omnia. This is universal for all mobile phones and will work across different devices. Samsung Omnia 7 with Fish Eye Lens Magnetically Attached First Person POV of Samsung Omnia Camera App without Fish Eye lens attachment First Person POV of Samsung Omnia Camera App with Fish Eye lens attachment Sample shots off Camera Picture off camera Skyline of One Marina Boulevard Close focus from Fish Eye lens attachment Picture of close up off camera In Summary, the eBay Fish Eye lens is an inexpensive attachment to your photography addition. While it is great for landscape and macro shots, it is also possible to get creative and use the fish eye lens for portrait shots of people with dramatic and distorted effects. However I will leave that experiment to you after you get one for yourself :) Previous Product Review Posts: Product Review: $7 Fish Eye Lens from eBay

The rewarding journey in Microsoft DPE as an Intern to MACH

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 01:00:11 +0000

I’ve embarked on the above-described 12-week Intern to MACH programme in the Microsoft Developer and Platform Evangelism (DPE) team, and no doubt it has been an awesome and rewarding journey! In fact, I’ve come on board during one of the most exciting times, as Windows 8 is the upcoming platform that Microsoft is launching on 26th October later this year. [caption id=“attachment_11024” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“A Microsoft Employee - Intern to MACH”][/caption] My role as a Developer Evangelist included the planning and execution of Windows 8 developer campaigns for the breadth and academic audience, increasing awareness within & engaging the developer community, driving adoption & application development on the platform and ramping up Windows 8 development skills. Life in DPE was totally awesome. Apart from a nice and flexible working environment, lots of sugar rush from the drinks in the pantry, most importantly, there were lots of nice and talented people in the DPE team. On the day where I first met my hiring manager, he tasked me to develop Windows 8 Metro-style apps by the end of that week. Despite having no prior experience to Windows 8 development (i.e. C# or .NET), I managed to develop 2 apps fairly easily, thanks to the flexibility of Windows 8 which allows me to make use of my web design and HTML5 + JavaScript skills. Through this process, I developed a very good understanding of the Windows 8 development process, a knowledge which every Developer Evangelist requires! I also attended a Premier Field Engineer Excellence Lab and obtained a token (worth $60) for my apps, which gave me a free access to upload my apps into the Windows Store! Soon after, I took ownership of managing the PFE labs, and assisted developers to attend the sessions! Check out my PFE Lab experiences and see for yourself what other developers have to say about their experiences. It’s really not very hard to develop Windows 8 apps, so why not join in the fun? :) What I really liked about my role is that despite being only an intern, I was trusted with the responsibility as a full-time employee. Not only do I get to manage and use a given budget (an amount more than what I have in my bank account :p), I enjoyed the autonomy over the conceptualization and execution of my projects and events. I suppose one of the highlights of my internship would be the Dream.Build.Launch - Hackathon 2012 event which I organized 2 weeks into my internship with the given budget. The first of a kind in Singapore, this event aims to provide students with the opportunity with meeting like-minded people who love technology, exchange ideas, experience ‘working’ in Microsoft for a day, and ultimately learn and create a Metro style Windows 8 app in teams of two! [caption id=“attachment_11009” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The opening for the Dream . Build . Launch - Hackathon 2012”][/caption] From the overwhelming responses, my team subsequently organized a series of Hack Weekends (Hack Weekend 1, Hack Weekend 2 & NDP Special) which took place fortnightly. Through these Hack Weekends, developers with a Windows 8 app idea were given some time to share them and gather interested team members to work on it together. Participants were also able to share and ‘show off’ their hard work during the Show-n-Tell. It was extremely heart-warming to see many familiar faces coming back, and I also took the opportunity to make friends with many of them! [caption id=“attachment_11018” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The awesome friends I’ve made from the Hack Weekends (NDP Special)”][/caption] A project which I also really enjoyed was the Windows 8 Workshop and Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) tours for schools. Working closely with my scholarship board, the Infocomm Developer Authority of Singapore (IDA), I’ve linked up with many Infocomm Clubs of Secondary Schools, Polytechnics and Junior Colleges, and invited them down to our very own Microsoft Singapore office in One Marina Boulevard. Through these in-house workshops, I shared with students and teachers the potential and cool features of Windows 8 and Windows Phone. Subsequently, I also introduced to them the Microsoft business, and treated them to a guided tour around our office and the Microsoft Technology Center. Personally, I believe this would expose them to the Microsoft’s business and culture, help them understand a Developer Evangelist’s work life in the business, and allow them to experience first-hand the cool gadgets we have here! I really enjoyed the interaction with the participants. Not only did they offer me great insights (check out the students’ comments) from their perspective and takeaways, I also felt young once again :) [caption id=“attachment_11020” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Students and teacher enjoying themselves in the Microsoft Technology Center tour”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_11021” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Students having a tour - In a Microsoft conference board room”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_11072” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Excited students embarking on the Microsoft tour - Outside the Microsoft auditorium”][/caption] Apart from working solely with my DPE team, I also had the opportunity to work with fellow interns from different departments and countries. Through Protégé, an internal marketing case competition, I worked very closely with other Intern to MACHs from all over the Asia Pacific region, such as Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia etc. Each of us were provided with a Nokia Lumia 800 device which we had to market to the student community. My fellow Intern to MACHs in the DPE team from different countries/subsidiaries also took the opportunity to learn from one another, to see how we can possibly work together to achieve our common goals. [caption id=“attachment_11029” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“WinMark8 - My awesome Protégé team”][/caption] As a developer evangelist, I was given many opportunities to meet lots of awesome people and be involved in lots of events. To name a few, I was offered a VIP pass to the Infocomm Professional Development Forum, where I learnt that as IT professionals, we must always be aware of the rapid changes in the IT industry, and to constantly keep up in order not to be obsolete. Echelon was also another event where I had the chance to promote Windows 8 to the start-up communities, and meet lots of innovative people and listen to their ideas! It was also really cool to finally meet Darth Vader and catch him “black” handed! [caption id=“attachment_11031” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“I caught Darth Vader ‘black’-handed at our Microsoft booth”][/caption] On top of these, I also had the rare opportunity to work very closely with our Singapore Microsoft Student Partners, and got to know some of them at a personal level. I was also fortunate enough to be the unofficial acting lead during my short stay here! Awesome friends I’ve made! :) [caption id=“attachment_11032” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The NYP Microsoft Student Partners team”][/caption] Who says life in Microsoft is solely about work. Speaking of work-life balance, employees at Microsoft and the DPE Team sure knows it well! Since a picture speaks a thousand words, I’ll let them do the talking :) [caption id=“attachment_11026” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“An Intern to MACH day-outing at University Studios Singapore - with the Singapore Subsidiary MACH Interns”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_11044” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Our DPE Offsite where we watched The Amazing Spiderman and celebrated Kyzer’s birthday!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_11067” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Chilling out with Spiffy Writers & DPE Team after work”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_11027” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“A paintball match with the DPE team”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_11028” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“When we thought paintball was all, nerf guns and ‘olympic’ shootouts were soon introduced into the team!”][/caption] Towards the end of our programme, we Singapore Subsidiary Intern to MACHs had the rarest opportunity to present and share our findings and take-away with the panel of Microsoft Singapore Senior Leadership and Executive Team. Sounds pretty intimidating right? As I head back to Carnegie Mellon to complete my studies, I’ll bring back these wonderful memories. Thanks everyone for making this a positive and memorable experience, and hope to see everyone again soon after I graduate! [caption id=“attachment_11036” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The awesome DPE Team!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_11046” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Thank you DPE Team :)”][/caption]

Fun with HTML & CSS at Geek Squad Drills

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 07:39:06 +0000

One of the main benefits of writing for Spiffy is the huge amount of awesome people that I can meet. And one of the great local groups that I met recently was Singapore Geek Girls. It is a local initiative that serves as a platform for females to connect, share, contribute, mentor and learn from each other. I found out about their latest knowledge sharing session called An Introduction to HTML and CSS, and I volunteered my services as an assistant coach. [caption id=“attachment_11055” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] SG Geek Girls’ HTML and CSS Study Group[/caption] It’s a fantastic Saturday morning at the Microsoft Office and everyone is geared up to learn web development. Some of the participants came as early as 9:30am to queue up for the class. [caption id=“attachment_11058” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Geek Squad Drills HTML & CSS[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_11052” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] The SG Geek Girls banner at the Microsoft office[/caption] In total, there are around 50 participants for the session. The ladies come from all walks of life, ranging from students and working professionals, to web enthusiasts. This awesome gentleman is Andrew Ching, our lead head coach for the session. [caption id=“attachment_11056” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Andrew is the lead coach for the SG Geek Girls HTML and CSS Study Group[/caption] First agenda of the day: Basics of HTML. I still remember my own HTML learning experience. I was initially confused with why there is a need for a head and body in a webpage and how the various tags and notations work in a webpage. But I eventually learnt through extensive trial and errors. It all boils down to Practice, Practice, and more Practice. [caption id=“attachment_11053” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Talking about the different HTML Tags[/caption] Everyone paid close attention to Andrew and tried their best to keep up with the class. [caption id=“attachment_11054” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] 50 Participants in the HTML and CSS Study Group[/caption] Second agenda of the day: Using CSS to beautify the webpages. The usage of CSS Class and ID proved to be the most challenging topic of the day, with several coaches taking their turns to try and clarify this tricky topic. To keep it simple, we strongly recommend that the participants only use CSS Class for their web development. [caption id=“attachment_11057” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Creating their first style sheet[/caption] I found that most participants had issues trying to follow the class as this is one of their first web design class. All of the coaches were amazing and tried to help out in whatever they can. We actively encouraged the participants to continue with their journey and to try out the code till it works for them. [caption id=“attachment_11059” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] A very serious participant![/caption] Final agenda of the day: Putting HTML and CSS together. It was very satisfying to see the sense of achievement on the faces of the participants who made it through the class. Many of them were able to create their first webpage and beautify it with images and CSS styling. It was an important first step on their journey to creating their very own websites. [caption id=“attachment_11060” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Creating a simple layout using HTML and CSS[/caption] It’s a wrap for the day! Andrew summarized the materials that were covered for the day and issued some homework for everyone to try out before next week’s class. Its lunch time with the Geek Squad at Chopsticks by the Asian Kitchen. [caption id=“attachment_11061” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] The Geek Squad, having lunch together at Asian Kitchen![/caption] I had a fantastic time with the Geek Squad. It reminded me of all of the small things that we take for granted in web development and I was able to reinforce my foundations for HTML and CSS. The best reward for the day was having the participants walking up to you and saying “Thank You” for your help. Ready to start your own journey into web development? Start your own 30 day challenge to learn and build your very own website today! What do you think of the event? Do you have other great tech 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!

Living life as a Software Developer at Lucasfilm Singapore

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 03:38:48 +0000

Our writer, Steven Neo, brings us on the journey of a software developer in the media industry. [caption id=“attachment_10956” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Lucasfilm Singapore is definitely one of the most exciting media companies to work for as a software developer.[/caption] The local media industry has seen some exciting developments in 2012 such as Lucasfilm Singapore’s new ‘Sandcrawler’ building in Fusionopolis and the infusion of an additional $20 million in training grant schemes by Media Development Authority of Singapore (MDA) to raise the skills of media professionals in Singapore. [caption id=“attachment_10961” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Lucasfilm’s Sandcrawler Building will be completed by 2013 and is located at Fusionopolis.[/caption] Looking to break into this exciting industry and join the ranks of international media companies such as Double Negative, Ubisoft, and Lucasfilm? Let me share my experience of how I became a software developer with one of the leading media companies in the world, Lucasfilm Singapore. [caption id=“attachment_10935” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] My journey to becoming a Software Developer at Lucasfilm Singapore[/caption] A New Beginning I graduated from National University of Singapore (NUS) in 2006 with a Bachelor Degree (Honours) in Information Systems. I was full of hope and aspiration, and I interviewed with Lucasfilm Singapore. Unfortunately, I was not successful as I did not have sufficient engineering experience in the industry. I eventually joined ST Electronics (Info-Systems) where I helped to develop a Java-based framework for their military tank management system. It was an eye opening experience as I worked with seasoned developers who readily shared their experiences and engineering expertise with me. And then one fine day in June 2008, my opportunity with Lucasfilm Singapore came knocking on my doors. [caption id=“attachment_10957” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Steven at the entrance of the current Lucasfilm Singapore office[/caption] The Developer Strikes Back [caption id=“attachment_10936” align=“alignnone” width=“566”] The ad that got my attention to apply for Lucasfilm Singapore[/caption] Economic Development Board of Singapore (EDB) partnered with Lucasfilm to introduce the Strategic Attachment and Training Program (STRAT). Its an internship program that allows interns to live and work in Lucasfilm San Francisco for a year. It was my second chance at entering my dream childhood company and I grabbed it. [caption id=“attachment_10968” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Darth Vader guards the doors to the executive toilets at Lucasfilm Singapore[/caption] With my engineering experience at ST Electronics, I was well prepared and I aced the various interviews to gain a coveted spot in the internship program. Soon after I was shipped to San Francisco in October 2008 and I had an exciting time working with some of the best minds in the industry. Besides gaining engineering expertise, I also learnt design, figure drawing, and sculpting from talented colleagues. Unfortunately, good times never last, and I was sent packing back to Lucasfilm Singapore in October 2009. [caption id=“attachment_10958” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Star Wars figurines don the reception area at Lucasfilm Singapore[/caption] Return of the Developer During my tenure as Information Systems (IS) Developer at Lucasfilm Singapore, I was able to work on a variety of technologies to develop applications for desktop, web, and mobile devices. Due to the short development timeframes and the vast amount of issues encountered daily, I had to learn to be a “benevolent cheater” – someone who can think out-of-the-box for creative solutions to unique issues that are within the acceptable project and technology constraints. While working at Lucasfilm Singapore, I also developed a passion for mobile technologies and to create solutions to help people to solve daily issues. This has spurned me to develop mobile applications for a variety of platforms and I achieved minor success with my mobile app, Tusker, by winning 3rd place in a mobile application competition organized by Straits Times Digital Life in 2011. Lessons Learnt [caption id=“attachment_10962” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Run fast you will - a shirt for the marathon-ers in Lucasfilm Singapore[/caption] Here are some lessons that I learnt along the way:

Transform your pictures to frame-worthy art pieces with Photo Monkey

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 07:41:18 +0000

App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! Our app of the week is Photo Monkey, proudly made in Singapore! Photo Monkey a fast, beautiful and fun way to turns your photos into beautiful bits by applying effects to them. We hear it’s already gotten over 10,000 downloads worldwide as well, not bad for an app that’s only been launched a couple of weeks! [caption id=“attachment_10924” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Photo Monkey lets you scroll through your photo albums and quickly apply filters.”][/caption] I first downloaded this application from the store because of the beautiful screenshots. Photo Monkey automatically loads the thumbnails of the images from your Windows 8 picture library. From the albums you can quickly select and apply filters to the images that you like. While there are a ton of photo filtering apps out in the market, the bright cherry interface and great user experience definitely makes Photo Monkey stand out. [caption id=“attachment_10925” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Select from a variety of filters in Photo Monkey”][/caption] Some of the filters include - lomography, vignette, pinhole, nostalgia and many more. After applying filters, they are automatically saved to your album. No hassle, seriously easy to use! [caption id=“attachment_10926” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“You get to preview the images after applying filters as well.”][/caption] If you’re a photo nerd like I am, download Photo Monkey on your Windows 8 Device and making your photos into frame-worthy art pieces now. *Psst* We hear it’s free for now! So download it now!

WS 2012 vs WS 2008 vs WS 2003 vs Tea

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 02:23:28 +0000

Everyone loves the great features in Windows Server 2012, things like Network Virtualization, Share Nothing Live Migration, Hyper-V replica, AD Cloning, and many more. Many people overlooked the basics (including me): the installation experience of Windows Server 2012 is also improved. Here is a video by Matthew Hitchcock showing the installation of WS2012 comparing to WS2008 and WS2003. The installation of WS2012 completed before he could finish a cup of tea including boiling the water :) Sit back and enjoy

Software Defined Networking

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 02:03:13 +0000

Software Defined Networking (SDN) has become a hot buzz phrase in the industry. SDN is being touted as a game changing technology that will transform private, public and hybrid cloud. We agree. We’ve known the importance of Software Defined Networking by virtue of the fact that we run the largest datacenters in the world and see the challenges of end to end network management on a datacenter and global scale. It’s one thing to enable a few VLANs and apply QoS to a couple of racks of servers. It’s another thing to manage traffic flows, provide logical segmentation that exceeds VLAN limits manifold, provide IP portability between datacenters, Live Migrate VMs across physical subnets without service interruption and do all of this on a global scale with hundreds of thousands of servers all while continuously adding/removing more nodes to the infrastructure. There is a great post on the Windows Server Blog explains SDN and what are the Microsoft Technologies from Windows Server 2012 and System Center 2012 SP1 to enable SDN. http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2012/08/22/software-defined-networking-enabled-in-windows-server-2012-and-system-center-2012-sp1-virtual-machine-manager.aspx

IT Camps Series is Back!

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 04:47:29 +0000

To view this as a web page, click HERE

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 Event Details

Registration

8 MAR 2013

A Deep Dive into MICROSOFT PRIVATE CLOUD for more details »

My first GeekcampSG experience

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 01:20:49 +0000

GeekcampSG - A gathering of developers who are passionate about their craft, coming together to share ideas and learn new technologies. [caption id=“attachment_10849” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] geekcampsg was sold out within weeks![/caption] When I first heard about the camp, I immediately signed-up for the event and waited eagerly for its arrival. The event was well-received by the developer community and it was sold out weeks in advance. I was impressed by the camp which was organized by developers, for developers. It was a Saturday morning but there are already tons of people waiting in line as early as 8:30am to get a chance at receiving one of the 100 limited edition GeekcampSG 2012 t-shirts. [caption id=“attachment_10851” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] More than 150 people came early to register for geekcampsg this year[/caption] Here’s shot of the awesome Geekcamp.SG 2012 t-shirt that is coveted by the camp attendees. [caption id=“attachment_10852” align=“alignnone” width=“439”] The geekcampsg tshirt was given to first 100 attendees and was snapped up in the first couple of minutes. Credit: GeekcampSG[/caption] For attendees that are not fortunate to receive one of the 100 coveted limited edition t-shirts, they are able to grab one of the awesome stickers for GeekcampSG 2012. [caption id=“attachment_10853” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] GeekcampSG Stickers were up for grabs as well[/caption] In total, more than 400 developers and enthusiasts attended the camp. The auditorium was filled to the brim, with eager attendees occupying all of the available floor space in the room. Here’s the opening address from the event’s Platinum Sponsor, Windows Azure. [caption id=“attachment_10855” align=“alignnone” width=“457”] Windows Azure[/caption] And off we go! The keynote was presented by U-Zyn Chua on Cryptography: Why Bitcoin is safer than your bank. It was a controversial currency concept and U-Zyn had a challenging and engaging session during Q&A. [caption id=“attachment_10856” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] The talk on Bitcoin was well received by developers[/caption] After a series of morning talks, it was lunch time! Everyone had a great lunch and it was simply awesome to see developers engaging each other in sharing sessions and lighting talks during the break. In my opinion, one of the most engaging and interesting speakers of the day was Yap Neng Ginn, who presented on Windows Azure. Here’s the best analogy that I’ve heard for the main categories of cloud offerings: On Premises – Your Car Infrastructure as a Service – Rented Car Platform as a Service – Taxi Software as a Service – SMRT I ended my day with an interesting talk by Michael Cheng on Continuous integration for PHP with Jenkins and Sonar. Thanks for all the great work put in by the Geekcamp.SG committee. I had a fantastic time mingling with fellow developers who are passionate about their craft. It was also great to see many student developers attending the event and eager to chip in to help for future events. I will definitely be back next year and hopefully I will have an interesting topic to present to all my fellow developers. Did you attend GeekCamp.SG? What do you think of the event? Do you have other great tech events to recommend for us to attend? Do share with us your recommendations in the comments below and we might just do a special report based on your recommendations!

Augmented Reality – What all the fuss is about

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 01:30:46 +0000

Who could ever forget Tom Cruise’s cool futuristic augmented reality computer in “Minority Report” where he effortlessly navigates the computer user interface using a series of natural gestures. I never thought that it was practical till I saw Piano Reality: an app where a user can use the camera feed to recognize the piano keys that are drew on an ordinary piece of paper, and then lets you play that piano. [caption id=“attachment_10828” align=“alignnone” width=“384”] Piano Reality - Click to watch the video[/caption] When Transformers 3 – Dark Side of the Moon was released in July 2011, Paramount Pictures introduced an augmented reality app for iOS called Defend the Earth. Movie fans can download the app, locate a Transformers 3 poster, and scan the poster code to unlock an augmented reality, first-person shooter game. [caption id=“attachment_10829” align=“alignnone” width=“350”] App - Transformers Defend the Earth Poster - Click to watch video[/caption] And the excitement does not stop there. The market has started to recognize the importance of augmented reality with the introduction of devices such as LEAP Motion, Asus Xtion Pro, and Google Glasses. Leading this technological trend is the Kinect. Introduced in November 2010, Kinect still holds the Guinness Book of Record for being the fastest selling consumer electronic device of all time. To support the developer community, Microsoft has released its Kinect SDK in June 2011 where developers can develop Kinect apps using C++, C#, and Visual Basic.NET. In addition to Windows Kinect SDK, you can also develop Kinect apps using these two open source APIs: 1. Open Kinect

Build a Windows 8 App Contest

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 10:46:24 +0000

CONTEST ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Contest is open to all registered companies in Singapore.
Participants may submit more than one application.
Qualifying apps must be published to Windows Store by 21 Jan 2013.
Other terms and conditions apply.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Design (50%)

Engaging and fresh UI design
Intuitive and responsive
Touch focused

(For app design guidance, refer to http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh770552) Functionality (50%)

Uniqueness of solutions
Stability
Utilize hardware/software capabilities

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

STEP 1 Submit the registration form below by 17 Dec 2012. (After submission, you will receive via email a starter-kit containing technical resources that will assist you in building Windows 8 app) STEP 2 Design and develop compelling Windows 8 app. (If you need technical assistance from Microsoft Singapore evangelism team, you may send a consultation session request to win8sg@microsoft.com) STEP 3 Submit your completed app to Windows Store and get it published by 15 Jan 2013. (Following the User Experience Design Guidelines for your application will increase your chances of passing the Windows Store app requirement)

Managing Data for Web and Mobile Apps

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 06:24:01 +0000

So you’ve decided to leverage on open source web frameworks to build your mobile apps to take advantage of the exciting opportunities in the emerging mobile app environment. But there are so many data storage options to choose from, how do you know which works best for you? Here’s a list of HTML5 data storage APIs and their browser support: Adapted from http://www.html5rocks.com/en/features/storage Let’s take a closer look at some data storage APIs that you can use to build your mobile app: SQLite

Play Extreme Hangman with the App of the Week!

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 05:49:47 +0000

App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! EXTREME HANGMAN Hangman is a great game. Not only does it train your deductive skills, but also exercises those vocabulary muscles of yours. Our app of the week Extreme Hangman, developed by Lim Cheng Lei, is here to help you become a master of the game. You get a total of 8 minutes to complete the entire game - which consists of 10 words in each game. You get 8 chances for each word and are allowed to use the total of 3 hints throughout the game. For parents who are looking for apps that can help your children to learn words and their meanings, Extreme Hangman is a fun and interesting way to get them started! The trial version include all features of the application and expires in 7 days after installation.

Best Free Resources for Prototyping a Spiffy, Modern UI

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 01:30:05 +0000

Achieving that Spiffy, Modern User Interface. [caption id=“attachment_10786” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Facebook for Windows 8 Concept from The Verge”][/caption] Some time ago Joyce posted about designing the new user interface that comes with Windows 8 and Windows Phone. Here are some elements that are key to the new interface. Typography. Type is beautiful. Not only is it attractive to the eye, but it can also be functional. The right balance of weight and positioning can create a visual hierarchy. Additionally, well placed type can help lead you to more content. Motion is what brings the interface to life. Transitions are just as important as graphical design. By developing a consistent set of motions or animations, a system is created that provides context for usability, extra dimension and depth and improves the perceived performance of the whole interface. Content not Chrome is one of the more unique principles of Metro. By removing all notions of extra chrome in the UI, the content becomes the main focus. This is especially relevant due to the smaller screen size and gesture-based interactions. Honesty. Design explicitly for the form factor of a hand held device using touch, a high resolution screen and simplified and expedited forms of interaction. In other words, be “authentically digital”. Today I will introduce some prototyping tools, and finally one awesome resource for those modernized icons. If you use Adobe Illustrator you’ll love this: Windows 8 Vector Templates. The nice folks at migration.mobi have created a beautiful Illustrator .ai template with lots of Windows 8 vectors that you can use to make beautiful app wireframes. [caption id=“attachment_10787” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“ItemsViewPage”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10788” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Plethora of Vectors”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10789” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“One of my earlier app wireframes”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10790” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Made just using AI and PS!”][/caption] Check it out and get the Illustrator files here. To those who love traditional sketching, however, check this out: UI Stencils’ “Windows 8 Stencils Kit” and “Windows 8 Sketch Pad”. This kit was co-developed by the design team over at Microsoft. Using both the Sketch Pad and the Stencils Kit helps one to make amazing designs, and it does allow one to see what is readily available in the Modern UI design. [caption id=“attachment_10791” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Stencils Kit and Sketch pad”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10792” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Windows 8 Sketch Pad”][/caption] A word of warning though, shipping is not cheap. Recently Syncfusion Metro Studio was updated to version 2, which saw 800 new icons being added. This brings the total number of icons to… Not 500, not 1000, but an amazing 1700! The best part about Metro Studio 2, it’s FREE. All 1700 icons are free, no strings attached. They’re easily to use too! [caption id=“attachment_10798” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“So many icons!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10794” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Easy to search for icons”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10795” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Simple customization, multiple ways to export”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10796” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“New in Metro Studio 2 – Projects”][/caption] Getting Metro Studio 2 is easy. Visit their website here, then register for a download. The installer will then be downloaded and a free product key will then be sent to your email. Now get out there and start prototyping!

All new Windows Dev Center and Windows 8 RTM is now available for developers

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 04:57:59 +0000

Windows Dev Center RTM updates are now live! Two weeks ago we announced that Windows 8 released to manufacturing (RTM). Since then we’ve been preparing builds for distribution as described in the Windows 8 has reached the RTM milestone post on Windows Team blog. I’m happy to let you know that we are now ready with early access builds for developers. In this post I’ll give you some pointers on the best way to get and install the RTM build and I’ll also point you to resources you can use to get your apps up and running on Windows 8 RTM.

Dream . Build . Launch NDP Special and MSP Kick-off

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 05:25:42 +0000

We had a very special HackWeekend on National Day which saw several quality apps and the first meet up of the year for the Microsoft Student Partners team. It was definitely an amazing experience to have a chat with the mixture of developers and students with a flow of brilliant ideas, with everyone mingling with each other. The day started off with the Microsoft Student Partner Kick-off for FY13, where we were introduced to the responsibilities and perks of a MSP by Yizhe, our Academic Developer Evangelist. After the briefing, we had a short prize presentation to our Champ Programme Graduates who all received Xbox 360 consoles. We then had an amazing buffet lunch and time to talk with each other in preparation for Dream . Build . Launch. Terence also brought us all on a tour of the Microsoft Technology Center. [caption id=“attachment_10749” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Playing with the Microsoft Surface”][/caption] The demonstrated apps this HackWeekend were much more polished than the first and second. It’s definitely encouraging to see the hard work developers are putting into their apps, working towards the launch of Windows 8 this October. [caption id=“attachment_10753” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Video Draw - an app that helps you to annotate directly on e-learning resources such as videos.”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10741” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Best Health Care”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10743” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“eZ-MRT helps you to decide the quicker route to take on the MRT”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10742” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Drop Zone is a casual game by Tianyang from Tyler Projects!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10752” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Photo Narrate helps you organized your photos and tell a clear story!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10754” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Xin Videos lets you catch up on TV from XinMSN”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10751” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“My Little Pony Portal for all MLP fans out there!”][/caption] Once that was over, we had a Live Telecast of the National Day Parade where everyone gathered around the screens that were set up while we ate dinner. As the day drew to a close, we had a brilliant view of the National Day fireworks from our window. Our Hackweekends are coming to a close - but you can still work on your Windows 8 applications. Look out for our upcoming events!

SkyDrive has a new look!

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 03:39:20 +0000

2 weeks earlier, Microsoft announced the new Outlook, which has more than 10 million sign ups till date. Today, Skydrive too has been given a makeover with a modern web design. It is designed with a new modern design for desktop and tablet browsers with instant search, contextual toolbar, thumbnail multi-select, drag-and-drop organization and HTML5 sorting! It also integrates social networking similar to outlook.com so you can easily share content with your friends. That’s not all! More refined SkyDrive apps have been launched for PCs and Macs, which allow faster uploads for users after tons of bugs and performance improvements. Windows Phone and iPhone users can access SkyDrive via their mobile phones since December 2011. Now, a new SkyDrive app will soon be introduced for Android devices, which will allow Android users to upload, share and retrieve content from SkyDrive. Developers too, have not been forgotten. Using SkyDrive’s API to build apps, developers can now store or access any type of file in a person’s SkyDrive. There’s also a newer and easier to use file picker API for websites, which will be familiar to our users who used the Windows 8 apps file picker. There will no longer be a restriction on the types of files that an application can upload to SkyDrive! Be sure to check out the full “Inside SkyDrive” story on the Windows Team Blog by SkyDrive group program managers, Omar Shahine and Mike Torres_,_ which includes full coverage, videos and screenshots.

Awesome TFSPreview.com

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 03:34:08 +0000

Background: Primarily as a developer, I always wanted an online service which is free for me to put my projects under source control. I could find few paid TFS hosted services but I was not ready to put sample projects or source code which has no real dollar value associated under a paid service. Secondly, I used to give sessions on TFS & source control and main problem for my students was to perform hands on practice when they are not at the lab. I used few alternatives like CodePlex by using community projects, VPC and Handson Lab environment at MSDN etc. but all those were/are still workarounds. Lastly, deploying & implementing TFS is a relatively big effort for companies who want to ’test the water’ first before diving deep. It sometimes becomes a real challenge to coordinate TFS implementation and promote usage among teams without a ’test’ or ‘dogfood’ environment. Team Foundation Service: TFS as a service by Microsoft at http://www.tfspreview.com This is a positive step towards developer empowerment. Specially - this will be helpful for all small, medium and large enterprises where developers and IT teams struggle to set the working environment for learning TFS and source control practices. Also not only this, it will be a boost for all freelance developers who struggle to maintain source control for their code & delivery while keeping the cost to the client low. While the service is in preview mode, the feature-set is still very rich and most importantly users can get started for free. The website has a mention that when the service is out of preview mode, the free services will still continue(* - may have reduced functionality or may be not) and there will be paid services as well. I sincerely hope Microsoft will continue to offer free services at least for Source Control and Continuous Bulds. Learn: The website also has a menu named “learn” and the content are amazing. It is mostly step-by-step and easy to understand and practice. Here is a direct link for ‘Learn": http://tfspreview.com/en-us/learn/start/connect-to-vs/

Cooking Chef Blumenthal's Perfect Roasted Potatoes with Apps of the Week on your phone

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 07:06:33 +0000

App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! This week, our contributing writer, Steven Neo explores cooking with a few Windows Phone applications. I love good food. I love it more when I can cook great food at home to share with my loved ones. Here’s a simple recipe for the perfect roasted potatoes which I adapted from Chef Heston Blumenthal’s recipe . Step 1 Pre-heat the oven at around 200 *C. Step 2 Boil a pot of water for cooking the potatoes. Add a pinch of salt in the water. When the water is boiling, add around 1kg of potatoes into the boiling water. You can leave the skin on the potatoes if you don’t mind it. Cook the potatoes till they are soft. When a potato is cooked, its edges will start to break up. [caption id=“attachment_10699” align=“alignnone” width=“240”] Download My Unit - Converting units of measurement in recipes.[/caption] You can use MyUnit Windows Phone App to easily convert units of measurement in cooking recipes. After cooking the potatoes, drain out the water and we are ready to fry the potatoes. Frying the potatoes will help to coat each potato with a thin layer of oil which will help the potatoes to become crispy during the roasting process. Step 3 When the frying pan is hot, add olive oil with lots of chopped garlic and chili (optional). When the garlic is golden brown, add the potatoes. Fry the potatoes for a couple of minutes till each potato is coated with a thin layer of oil. You can use the Cooking Timer Windows App to time the cooking process and ensure that the potatoes are not overcooked. After the potatoes are ready, place them in a baking pan. Ensure that the potatoes are evenly spread out in the baking pan so that each potato can be roasted to perfection. Step 4 Place the potatoes into the oven for around 45 min to 60 min, at around 200 *C. Now it’s time to sit back and relax while the potatoes are roasting. [caption id=“attachment_10707” align=“alignnone” width=“610”] Recipe planning fun for the whole family.[/caption] While waiting for the potatoes to be roasted, you can plan your next culinary cooking adventure with your little ones using the fun Sesame Street Big Block Party Windows App. Step 5 When the potatoes are roasted to a nice, golden crisp, take the potatoes out of the oven. Add chopped herbs, spices, and salt for bags of flavors. [caption id=“attachment_10709” align=“alignnone” width=“240”] Taking great pictures of your culinary creations.[/caption] You can use the Fhotoroom Windows App to take a series of beautiful photos of your culinary masterpiece and share it with your friends and family. Now it’s time for you to try this simple recipe at home! Here is a recap of the Windows App that you can use to make cooking fun and simple:

Infographic Fridays – What is Big Data?

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 06:00:27 +0000

Big Data has become one of the latest buzzwords of the industry. But few people actually understand what it is and how it’s applicable to our daily lives. For this week’s Infographic Friday, we’d like to explain to you what Big Data is about through this inforgraphic. Simply put, Big Data is data that is too large, complex and dynamic for any conventional data tools to capture, store, manage and analyze. The right use of Big Data allows analysts to spot trends and gives niche insights that help create value and innovation much faster than conventional methods. Check out this inforgraphic from WIPRO to find out more! [caption id=“attachment_10688” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“BigData - Click to view the larger version”][/caption]

Top 5 Gaming Frameworks for the Indie Game Developer

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 01:00:02 +0000

Mobile devices have truly evolved to become popular casual gaming devices. Just hand any crying baby a smartphone these days and they’ll instantly stop once they open popular games such as Cut The Rope and Angry Birds. For budding game devs, the incentive to learn is huge, it’s an interesting process, extremely creative, not to mention really fun and I can only imagine the truckloads that you can earn if your game becomes a hit. As an amateur game developer, it’s helpful to know some of the popular game engines out that can help you in the process to build the next Angry Birds. Here are a few of the popular gaming frameworks out there that can help you build the next superstar game! 1. CoCos2D Cocos2D is an open source 2D game framework. The original Cocos2D framework is written in Python but has since been ported to other languages and platforms (and yes it’s available on Windows as well!) Cocos2d hides implementation details of OpenGL ES, thus making it easier to learn. Cocos2d includes popular physics engines Chipmunk and Box2D. [caption id=“attachment_10669” align=“alignnone” width=“600” caption=“Popular casual game Fishing Joy is built on Cocos2D”][/caption] Download: Beta release: http://cocos2d-x.googlecode.com/files/cocos2d-x0.11.0-win8-0.9.1.zip Github repository: https://github.com/cocos2d-x/cocos2dx-win8 Inheriting the open source spirit from cocos2d, this branch is also open & free under MIT License. Features and Release:

Spicing up your website with JQuery

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 03:39:54 +0000

PayPal’s recent study revealed that Australian retailers with an online presence have experienced a 5 percent increase in sales as of July 2012. On the other hand, brick-and-mortar stores have experienced a 4 percent decrease in sales for the same period. This development is representative of the global trend and highlights the importance of having an online presence for continued business growth. However, having an online presence is only half the story. User-friendliness has been cited as one of the major barriers in the growth of mobile commerce in Singapore. As such, having an interactive and attractive website will definitely help to contribute directly to your bottom line. Here is a list of open source JQuery plugins that can help to improve the look and feel of your website: JQuery TOOLS http://jquerytools.org/

3 Steps to Setup your SharePoint 2013 Preview

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 05:18:27 +0000

I try to create small notes or share my knowledge with the SharePoint community in Singapore, so in this article I will cover 3 basic steps to Install & Configure, Learn and understand the change on SharePoint 2013 Preview. I try my level best to cover visually step-by-step configuration from simply enabling Hyper-V on Windows 8, installing Windows Server 2012, SQL Server 2012 to complexly installing SharePoint 2013. Hope this help you, Please note that this only for test purposes not on production.

Leveraging Open Source Web Frameworks for Mobile Development

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 02:35:09 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_10529” align=“alignnone” width=“315”] The top ten strategic trends for 2012[/caption] Gartner’s 2012 article on the “Top 10 Technology Trends for 2012" shows an increasing importance placed on mobile-centric applications and interfaces and on development for media tablets and beyond. Source: Gartner (February 2012) With a forecasted worldwide media tablet sales of 118.9 million units in 2012, developers are leveraging on the various open source, cross platform web frameworks to rapidly develop and deploy mobile applications to cater to the market demand. [caption id=“attachment_10530” align=“alignnone” width=“307”] Worldwide sales of media tablets[/caption] Source: Gartner (April 2012) Let’s take a look at some of these frameworks and what they can offer: 1. Apache Cordova

Admit it, you'll love reading our App of the Week - STOMP

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 02:00:56 +0000

One of my favourite sites to visit when I’m bored and want to know the latest gossip in Singapore is STOMP.

I know a lot of people have criticised the site about the level of sophistication and discussion that goes on between the pixels on the screen, but I say it’s an accurate reflection of heartland life in Singapore. Some of the deepest Singaporean sentiments run deep in the articles, although at times it is masked by comments that doesn’t seem to have been well-thought out. I admit it - I love STOMP, without it who would report about Ah lians sleeping on trains and taking up 5 MRT seats? Oh and it really doesn’t hurt that the news on it is as bizarre and incredulous. Sometimes I wonder if people deliberately fabricate stories just to get the $50 reward by Singapore Press Holdings. And now you can continue to read about the latest craziest news and happenings on the MRT from STOMP on it’s Windows 8 application! I must warn you though, STOMP on Windows 8 looks much cleaner than what you may be used to on the regular STOMP website. Take a deep breath. Here it is. [caption id=“attachment_10562” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The STOMP home screen on Windows 8”][/caption] On the home screen you can view all the hot topics that are going on within the website. By scrolling right and left, you can also view other headlines in ‘Singapore Seen’ and many others. [caption id=“attachment_10569” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Browse inside each category swiftly and easily”][/caption] Inside each category you can quickly and easily glance through all the top news and updates on what’s going on without having to scroll too far! [caption id=“attachment_10570” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Easy reading on the interface”][/caption] What I first noticed is the key difference between the website and the app is the lack of clutter. I much prefer reading STOMP on the Windows 8 User Interface (UI) minus the ad banners and many other distractions from the content. This version of the UI is much easier to read and pleasant on the eyes. [caption id=“attachment_10573” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“You can download STOMP on WIndows 8 by clicking here.”][/caption] Now go forth and gossip on!

Windows 8 Camp in a Box: comes in 2 flavours - C# and JavaScript

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 06:29:42 +0000

We’ve been getting a lot of requests about sharing our Windows 8 lab materials and we’re happy to announce that it’s here! Introducing Windows 8 Camp in a Box - which now comes in 2 flavours - C# and JavaScript. What’s inside Windows 8 Camp in a Box? This download includes the hands-on-labs, presentations, samples and resources from the Windows 8 camps. The Windows 8 camps are free training events for developers ramping up on Metro style app development. We have two packages available. Both packages include the same content and resources; the hands-on-labs are different.

Infographic Fridays - A History of HTML5

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 05:42:15 +0000

Infographic Fridays are a weekly sharing of a cool infographic spotted across the web. To mark the start of our Infographic Fridays - check out this history of HTML5, from its inception to the major sites that have adopted it along the way (and even those that still lag behind). The timeline is created by Wix.com [caption id=“attachment_10384” align=“alignnone” width=“572” caption=“Check out the history of the language, from its inception to the major sites that have adopted it along the way (and even those that still lag behind). The timeline is created by Wix.com”][/caption]

Practical HTML5: Using It Today

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:35:36 +0000

I stumbled across Dr. Doris Chen’s Blog. She is a Developer Evangelist at Microsoft for the Western region of the United States. Some of her content is directed towards the use of HTML5 and I find her discussion very relevant in today’s context given the debate about the use of HTML5 and its effect on the performance in apps. Here’s the abstract of her talk. Abstract Everyone wants to jump into HTML5 but how do you use the cool features of this new specification while ensuring existing and future browsers render your web pages as expected? This is where feature detection, Modernizr, polyfills and shims come in. In the session, you’ll learn the best practices and strategy to code with HTML5 and CSS3 features that won’t break for the existing and future browsers. You’ll learn step by step how to use specially crafted JavaScript and CSS code that emulate HTML5 features. Also, a real-life case study will be used to demonstrate step by step how to build Cross-Browser Plug-in-Free experiences. With a couple of simple changes to your sites, you can take advantage of HTML5 today without breaking your sites in the future. Expect a lot of demos and code in the session. Video Slides for the conference can be found at http://html5devconf.com/slides.html Are you building your apps using HTML5 or native code?

Develop Wow. Discover code greatness with Visual Studio 2012

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 08:02:21 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_10488” align=“alignnone” width=“530” caption=“Join us for the online launch of Visual Studio 2012”][/caption]

The faster you can transform your big idea into software, the greater your chance for success. Be ready to rise to the challenge with Visual Studio 2012. Get a head start on your future by attending the Visual Studio 2012 Virtual Launch Event. See how Visual Studio 2012—supported by Team Foundation Server—can help turn your ideas into software. Save the date and register now to attend this free event!

The new Hotmail - Outlook.com

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 17:18:20 +0000

Microsoft is rebranding the Hotmail service, moving it to Outlook.com. In this new interface, the design and layout of Hotmail has been changed to bring it more in line with the minimalist design aesthetic of Windows 8 Metro and Windows Phone, which emphasizes on straight lines, thin fonts and white spaces. It only shows up a simple “compose a new message” if you have nothing selected, and you get a suite of action commands at the top once a message is selected. One of the most breathtaking features in Outlook is that it brings in social integration too! Depending on who you are conversing with, Outlook can automatically import their recent tweets and Facebook updates, including a link to their profile, if you allow it to. As you click on an email that is from another person, the ads at right panel goes away, and is immediately replaced by links to the person’s Facebook and Twitter profiles as well as his/her latest updates. You may even like, comment or retweet right from this panel. You may also call up a chat window any time by simply clicking the speech balloon at the top. Microsoft also says Skype will be integrated in Outlook. :) Be sure to check out the Outlook.com preview :) Find out more on the Outlook blog, written by Chris Jones.

Hackweekend #02 - Apps Galore and more

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 07:02:55 +0000

We started Hackweekend as a way to get to know our developers, have fun, build the community and boy, it’s been an exhilarating experience. It’s great to see that there are so many developers working on interesting problems and tackling difficult technical issues. At our first Hackweekend, we had people coming up with some great ideas for their applications. At the second Hackweekend, we could see their fruits of labor, with many demoing almost complete Windows 8 applications! What’s especially encouraging is to see that people are helping each other with their own expertise and making new friends through the event. Here are some photos from the event: [caption id=“attachment_10448” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Chun Siong introducing Hackweekend #02”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10449” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Participants listening in to the introduction”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10450” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Our youngest developer - presenting his project about augmented reality.”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10451” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The idea wall where every pitch went up!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10452” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Getting ready for the demo after the fireworks!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10453” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Our first presenter, Luther, did an app to help NS men and people going for re-service find the nearest locations to take their IPPT!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10454” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Luther’s app presentation - Helps you find nearest IPPT locations”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10458” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“My Little Pony - Windows Phone to Windows 8 app”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10457” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Jason Chee - demoing his app”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10455” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Everyone who attended Hackweekend #02”][/caption] We’re looking forward to celebrating National Day with you - if you’ve got a Windows 8 app to show and tell, join us for the NDP special of Hackweekend! [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Celebrate National Day, hack some code and enjoy the fireworks on 9 Aug”][/caption] Sign up here: http://bit.ly/ndpspecial Download the Windows 8 Release Preview

HTML5 and CSS3 Fundamentals for Absolute Beginners

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 03:09:07 +0000

If you’ve been meaning to learn a new or different language, this is a great way to start. In this free course we found on Channel 9, Bob Turner from www.LearnVisualStudio.net will teach you the fundamentals of HTML5 & CSS3 programming. Tune in to learn concepts about web pages, CSS3 styles and HTML5 features! [caption id=“attachment_10443” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“HTML5 & CSS3 Fundamentals: Development for Absolute Beginners”][/caption] Topics covered are web prinicpals, writing code and much more! Each concept is broken into its own video so you can search for and focus on the information you need. Download the entire series source code here.

Windows 8 Cheat Sheet: Get Started Easily!

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 08:00:48 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_10428” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The shortcut keys work great on any PC and also the upcoming Microsoft Surface!”][/caption] Windows 8 Release Preview and Development tools released for a month now and many of you have installed and played with it. I am getting some common questions from time to time so I think it’s a good idea to share with you some useful information to help you get started with quickly. Hardware Requirement Windows 8 Release Preview works great on the same hardware that powers Windows 7:

Foodies rejoice with App of the Week - NomWhere

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 05:57:02 +0000

App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! If you’re a big foodie like most Singaporeans are, this week’s app of the week is for you! NomWhere is a location based food application on Windows 8 that allows you to find the nearest restaurants and eateries. Based on HungryGoWhere’s data sets on Project Nimbus, developer Kim Evangelista created this fun and easy to use application for hungry people looking for choices of food based on your current location. This is how to main screen looks like. It tells you the nearest restaurants found in the 100m, then 200m and 300m range, on and on till you find somewhere you’d like to eat! [caption id=“attachment_10415” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“NomWhere tells you the nearest food destinations!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10416” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Your location is detected by the app”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10418” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Once you’ve selected the restaurant, you can view useful information on it such as opening hours and phone numbers.”][/caption] The app is available for download on the Windows 8 Store - check it out! We hear that version 2 of the app will include comments and reviews - looking forward to it!

Infocomm Professional Development Forum 2012

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 16:50:30 +0000

The 4th Infocomm Professional Development Forum 2012 was held on 27th July in Hotel Rendezvous. Through this half day session, industry leaders shared their insights on IT talent management and also the latest technical expertise for participants’ professional development. The theme of the event was “Staying current and empowering tomorrow”. Our guest-of-honor was Mr. Ronnie Tay, Chief Executive Officer of Infocomm Development Authority Singapore. The event was kick-started by Mr. Chak Kong Soon, President Singapore Computer Society. Through his opening address, he highlighted the importance of training and also the commitment of SCS’s support through the certification programme, which include the Certification in IT Project Management and Certification in Business Continuity Management. Mr. Chak also took the opportunity to welcome Infopier, the 1st ICT professional registry in Singapore, as a co-organizer, and also to welcome IT professionals to join the network and exchange ideas. Our GOH, Mr. Tay, gave his address with an interesting analogy. As a Rear Admiral, he mentioned how the current is constantly against us IT professionals in the rapid changing IT industry. Hence, the challenge for IT professionals is the need to constantly ‘paddle’ in order to stay current. In his inspiring speech, he also highlighted that Singapore has experienced the strongest growth in Infocomm in 5 years, and there is a changing need in the skillsets in today’s IT industry. Ms. Janet Ang, Managing Director IBM Singapore, provided a keynote address on “Identifying and Nurturing Talents”, and how IBM recognizes talents in the company by identifying key success factors for employees. Leveraging on to what Mr. Tay mentioned earlier, she also highlighted that there is a need to integrate IT and domain expertise. A humorous speaker, Ms. Ang got the audience into laughter as she consistently insisted how she will stay 39 years old forever, and also how her first 2 daughters chose digital art courses over IT-related ones. She emphasized that technology is a key driver that can impact change, and her biggest takeaway for the audience is for everyone to think how we as IT professionals impact that change. The last keynote speaker of the day was Mr. Gerry Chng, Partner, Ernst & Young Advisory. In his presentation, he highlighted that today’s world brings about new opportunities in the technology scene. He brought up examples of how even a 3-year-old kid plays with an iPad, and how technology is used today to enable businesses in what they want to achieve. He gave many insights on how technology is used in leapfrogging, its ability to scale, and how it can be used to solve seasonal problems. The event quickly transited into a panel discussion on “Building a Vibrant Community of IT Talent”, facilitated by Mr. Swaran, Executive Sub-editor, The Business Times. Some issues discussed included foreign as talents as part of our vibrant community, to portraying the image that IT is a fun industry to be in. Participants were treated to an awesome tea reception, followed by 3 tracks of professional workshops, namely Networking & Infrastructure, Business Analytics and Industry-centric IT domains. The event is organized by Singapore Computer Society and Infopier and supported by Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore. Partners include Cloud Security Alliance, Global Science & Technology Forum, Information Technology Standards Committee, IT Management Association, Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation and PMI Student Chapter.

[Event] Discover Visual Studio 2012 - new ideas, new solutions, new tool [Briefing]

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 05:04:54 +0000

How do you ensure code quality in your projects throughout the development lifecycle? Has your end user ever complained that the deliverables are not in line with the requirements provided? Have you ever found it impossible to reproduce a bug? Are you looking to target new platforms such as Windows 8? If the answer is yes for any of the above, do join us for the upcoming briefing on Visual Studio 2012, the next version of Visual Studio. AGENDA REGISTRATION 1.30 PM - 2.00 PM DEVELOPER COLLABORATION WITH TEAM FOUNDATION SERVER 2012 Want to work offline seamlessly? Wish merging happened less frequently and was simpler? How about finding work items faster? 2.00 PM - 2.45 PM AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT WITH VISUAL STUDIO 2012 Incorporate stakeholder feedback by using the new powerpoint storyboarding, feedback manager and agile dashboard features 2.45 PM - 3.30 PM FROM UNIT TESTING TO LOAD TESTING: VISUAL STUDIO -YOUR COMPLETE TESTING TOOL We cover Unit testing, Exploratory testing, unlimited load testing and more 3.30 PM - 4.10 PM BREAK 4.10 PM - 4.30 PM ENSURE CODE QUALITY IN YOUR PROJECTS Ensure and enable quality through better testing and profiling tools; session covers code coverage, code metrics, code clone, intellitrace and more 4.30 PM - 5.10 PM BUILDING METRO UI APPLICATIONS ON WINDOWS 8 USING VISUAL STUDIO 2012 See how Visual Studio 2012 enables Windows 8 application development 5.10 PM - 5.50 PM

Celebrate National Day, hack some code and enjoy the fireworks on 9 Aug

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 03:20:30 +0000

[caption id=“attachment_10377” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Join us for our NDP Hackweekend Special! http://bit.ly/ndpspecial"][/caption] It’s that time of the year again! National Day is here and what better way to celebrate than with fellow geeks and some awesome fireworks! Dream.Build.Launch - NDP Special is an exclusive half-day event where we aim to: - Provide you with an opportunity to network, get together and meet the Microsoft Developer Platform Evangelist and Microsoft Student Partners team - Celebrate the festive season together with like-minded people - Provide you with an opportunity to build a Windows 8 Metro Style application. Start working on your Windows 8 App now, and show off your hard work to your fellow community on National Day. Participants will receive an exclusive (We ship not slide deck) t-shirt :) Registration process 1) Register at http://bit.ly/ndpspecial (you will be placed on a waitlist) 2) Submit a few screenshots of your app that you have developed with a short description (up to 150 words) to win8sg@microsoft.com (Subject: NDP Special Registration) by 6 August 2012 latest. 3) 50+ participants will be placed off the waitlist based on this submission (selection based on first come first serve and quality of idea and app) Note: Due to foreseen high responses and demand, security for the building has been increased on 9 August and you will not be allowed to enter the building without prior confirmation of your registration. Event details Start Date/Time: 9 August 2012 (Thurs), 1.30pm End Date/Time: 9 August 2012 (Thurs), 10.30pm Venue: Microsoft Singapore 1 Marina Boulevard, Level 21 Auditorium Singapore 018989 1.30pm - 2:30pm Registration 2:30pm - 3:00pm Welcome and Introduction 3:00pm onwards Networking + Finalizing Code + Preparation for Show n Tell 5:30pm onwards Live Telecast of NDP 6:30pm onwards Dinner 6:45pm - 7:15pm Live Fireworks :) 7:30pm - 10:30pm Show n Tell Register: http://bit.ly/ndpspecial



You can build a Windows 8 App in 30 days - Sign up for Generation App today
Wed, 25 Jul 2012 06:00:41 +0000
CARPE DIEM. [caption id=“attachment_10368” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Welcome to Generation App. Generation App is a movement that will unite everyone who has a stake in the future of applications—people with ideas for apps, people who code apps, and people who use apps.”][/caption]   How do you develop a Windows 8 app in 30 days? Well, Generation App is here to help. What is Generation App about? CHALLENGE Every era has had its moment when technology drives its communication, ignites inspiration, and fuels exploration. Today our era is about apps. THE BIG IDEA We are going to recapture the hearts and minds of app lovers—both developers and people who have ideas for apps—by launching a movement called “Generation App” – representing an unparalleled business opportunity for developers in conjunction with Windows 8, Windows Phone and Windows Azure. HOW IT WORKS We believe that today’s app ecosystem consists of two personas: Coders (“I can build an app”) and Conceivers (“I have an idea for an app”). Generation App will connect these two personas, and create a social movement around the drama of app creation: On the Web: The Generation App website is a “match.com” for Coders and Conceivers. This website will enable visitors to view projects that are currently underway, or create a new project. It will include descriptions of each application in progress; the developers behind the applications and celebrating developers building apps. On the desktop: A “Generation App” app will be developed to help people create a W8 App, either by connecting Conceivers with coding resources; or by connecting Coders with development resources such as a Generation App-branded 30-to-Launch page Your journey starts now. From embracing the Metro style design to coding, testing, and integrating with unique Windows 8 experiences, you’ll learn the essentials to create a great Metro style app over the next 30 days. Now is the time to create the Windows 8 apps the world is waiting for. Find out more now.   [caption id=“attachment_10370” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Carpe Diem - Sign up to build your apps today.”][/caption]


Top five gadgets we love from The Dark Knight Rises
Wed, 25 Jul 2012 02:00:17 +0000
Have you caught The Dark Knight Rises yet? If you haven’t …. seriously what are you waiting for? Go book your tickets now. Now. [caption id=“attachment_10340” align=“alignnone” width=“411” caption=“The Dark Knight Rises”][/caption] The Dark Knight Rises has got to be one of the most scintillating movies of 2013.   The thing I love about Christopher Nolan’s movies are how believable the scenes are. If you’ve watched his movies before- Momento, Inception, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, you’d notice that the fight scenes are mostly done by the actors themselves, without special effects. A geek’s dream come true take the form of the cool gadgets that Nolan’s team is able to come up without making it seem like hocus pocus magic.   Here are the top 5 gadgets (sometimes vehicles) we love from the The Dark Knight Rises. 1. Catwoman’s Spy Goggles [caption id=“attachment_10350” align=“alignnone” width=“570” caption=“Anne Hathaway with Catwoman’s Spy Goggles that double up as her iconic cat ears.”][/caption] It’s refreshing to see how the costumes team interpreted Catwoman’s gear. It is clever, sexy and functional at the same time. In the image above. Anne Hathaway plays Catwoman and is seen above wearing the famous spy goggles that double up as her iconic cat ears.   2. The Bat Pod [caption id=“attachment_10351” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The Batpod”][/caption]   The Batpod is intended as a kind of “escape pod” integrated into the Tumbler, it also served an auxiliary vehicle. Armed with dual front-mounted cannons, machine guns and grappling hooks, the Batpod affords Batman greater mobility at the cost of some protection. In the movie you’ll see Batman outrace and mislead his enemies by quickly changing the direction of the Batpod. Totally badass.   3. The Bat [caption id=“attachment_10352” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The Bat is an awesome flying vehicle”][/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_10353” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Equipped for the ultimate super hero”][/caption]   Dubbed The Bat, the vehicle is understood to be Christopher Nolan’s take on fictional aircraft the Batwing. In the final scene, the Bat takes on a big role (can’t tell you what for though - just watch the movie). You’ll see Batman shocking his enemies with the Bat, which can be used both on land and air. 4. The Batsuit [caption id=“attachment_10354” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The Batsuit”][/caption] Ever wondered by Batman never seems to get shot down? Wonder no more. The Batsuit is made of Nomex biweave with Kevlar plating and reinforced joints, enough to stop a knife or even a bullet. At 300 grand the outfit proved too expensive for the army, but that’s nothing to rich man like Bruce Wayne. Meanwhile in the second film, he upgrades to a lighter titanium-dipped tri-weave fibre armour with separate kevlar plates, which makes him faster but more vulnerable. 5. The EMP Device [caption id=“attachment_10355” align=“alignnone” width=“576” caption=“The EMP Device from The Dark Knight Rises”][/caption] This device is super powerful. Without wishing to give too much away, an EMP device is utilized in The Dark  Knight Rises to deliver an electromagnetic pulse that’s able to cause  disruption to electronic equipment.  In the movie, it is used to stop villains from running away from Batman. The Dark Knight Rises is now open across cinemas in Singapore.   Can’t get enough of Batman and the cool tools in the movie? Answer the call on your Nokia Lumia with The Dark Knight Rises app.  http://nokia.ly/Mm2Oli [caption id=“attachment_10356” align=“alignnone” width=“496” caption=“The Dark Knight Rises Nokia Lumia app”][/caption]


MessagingTalk UG Meetup – Harnessing the Power of Lync!
Tue, 24 Jul 2012 07:32:29 +0000
We have a special guest in town, Alan Shen, Vice President Unify2 Inc, and would like to invite you to join in this session! [caption id="" align=“alignleft” width=“213” caption=“Alan leads the Unify2 Enterprise Voice practice, which includes enterprise deployments of all aspects of Microsoft Unified Communications Enterprise Voice, including bandwidth planning, voice quality, PBX interoperability, edge deployment, enterprise voice routing, and enterprise cellular telephony.”][/caption] Alan leads the Unify Square’s Enterprise Voice practice, which includes enterprise deployments of all aspects of Microsoft Unified Communications Enterprise Voice, including bandwidth planning, voice quality, PBX interoperability, edge deployment, enterprise voice routing, and enterprise cellular telephony.   Alan brings over 10 years of Microsoft experience as a Program Manager in the Mobility, Networking, and Office Communications Server groups. As a Senior Program Manager for Microsoft Office Communications Server, Alan designed the Audio/Video Conferencing Edge solution for OCS 2007. This firewall traversal technology has been adopted by the Microsoft Windows Live Messenger service, now connecting more than one billion voice minutes per month. Most recently, Alan was a Senior Program Manager for the OCS Technology Adoption Program (TAP), which enabled dozens of global enterprise customers and over 100 Partners with their OCS 2007 deployments. Alan led the Voice TAP for Microsoft, which focused on enterprise deployments of OCS Voice. Alan was a key approver for over 100 customer designs for interfacing with Gateways & PBXs. During this session Alan will highlight the Power of Lync and share how he has assist enterprises design, architect and implement Lync successfully with the goals of leveraging it as the Enterprise Communication Platform to enable business transformation. Alan will highlight best practices, do and don’t. And, he will also share his thought about “What’s next for Lync”   Session Details: Day/Date : Tuesday 24 July 2012 Time: 1830h light dinner, 1900h session starts till 2100h. Venue: Microsoft Singapore, One Marina Boulevard, Level 22 (conf room 12)


Catch up on your favourite TV dramas with App of the Week - Xin Videos
Mon, 23 Jul 2012 08:58:53 +0000
App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! I grew up watching local dramas and loving them. Somewhere along the way though, school, gatherings with friends and work started to dominate most of my life. I started missing out on these dramas and feeling slightly left out whenever my friends chatted about what was going on in the latest Channel 8 or Korean dramas. But now that’s changed with XinMSN - and even better, with Xin Videos! [caption id=“attachment_10318” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Click here to download.”][/caption]   The xin videos app allows you to watch Catchup TV shows on Xin MSN without the need of Silverlight runtime or Flash player on your Windows Phone! Here are some cool features! Catch up on the latest pick your choice of LQ/HD/HQ video to watch in [WMV or MP4]! [caption id=“attachment_10319” align=“alignnone” width=“366” caption=“Watch all your favourite local dramas on the go with xin Videos!”] [/caption]   If you’re one of those people who can’t help but read the synopsis of everything you’re about to watch before actually watching it (yup, I’m guilty of it too), then good news! You don’t have to go to Wikipedia to read about the dramas, it’s all in the app! [caption id=“attachment_10320” align=“alignnone” width=“366” caption=“Save money by reading the synopsis on the app itself! (Yay no need to buy 8 Days)”][/caption]   Scroll through the dramas at the comfort of your bed, or even squashed on the MRT. [caption id=“attachment_10322” align=“alignnone” width=“366” caption=“Scroll through the dramas at the comfort of your bed, or even squashed on the MRT.”][/caption] Never miss another episode again on Catchup TV! [caption id=“attachment_10323” align=“alignnone” width=“366” caption=“Never miss another episode again on Catchup TV!”][/caption]   Check out the app and let me know what you think!


The V Motion Project is a music spectacle that blows us away
Fri, 20 Jul 2012 02:00:09 +0000
   I was blown away by how the guys at the V Motion Project (they’re from New Zealand!) have managed to use the Kinect in such an impressive way. It shows how a cheap and powerful sensor such as Kinect can create amazing interactive experiences that everyone can leverage on - from students, to musicians and so on.   Check out how the National University of Singapore’s HCI class is doing the same.     Here’s the description of the project from their page: This project combines the collective talents of musicians, dancers, programmers, designers and animators to create an amazing visual instrument.  Creating music through motion is at the heart of this creation and uses the power of the Kinect to capture movement and translate it into music which is performed live and projected on a huge wall. v.co.nz/#the-motion-project We created and designed the live visual spectacle with a music video being produced from the results. We wanted it to be clear that the technology was real and actually being played live. The interface plays a key role in illustrating the idea of the instrument and we designed it to highlight the audio being controlled by the dancer. Design elements like real time tracking and samples being drawn on as they are played all add to authenticity of the performance. The visuals are all created live and the music video is essentially a real document of the night. assemblyltd.com/ Check out the tech behind the project here: custom-logic.com/blog/v-motion-project-the-instrument/   Very very cool. Who thinks we should do this in Orchard?


Microsoft Assessment & Planning Toolkit 7.0 Goes Live – Supports Windows 8 and Server 2012
Thu, 19 Jul 2012 08:29:17 +0000
I just received an email informing me that MAP 7.0 is live, and it now supports assessment to help you plan the deployment of Windows 8, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V.  You can start planning now, with the products coming down the pipe soon. The new version which you can download now allows you to:

Understand your readiness to deploy Windows Server 2012 in your environment
Determine Windows 8 readiness
Investigate how Windows Server and System Center can manage your heterogeneous environment through VMware migration and Linux server virtualization assessments
Size your desktop virtualization needs for both Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and session-based virtualization using Remote Desktop Services
Ready your information platform for the cloud with the SQL Server 2012 discovery and migration assessment
Evaluate your licensing needs with usage tracking for Lync 2010, active users and devices, SQL Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012

Assessment is a critical early step in a virtualization project, be it XenServer, VMware, or Hyper-V. MAP is a FREE and Agentless discover and assessment toolkit that really comes handy. Apart from assessing virtualization, MAP has wide coverage in this release. We can use MAP to assess SQL, MYSQL, Oracle, and Sybass.    Application summary and Performance metrics will show details of Applications and performance in the environment.     Try it out within your infra environment and see its magic!


Simple same on Export to Excel using OpenXML SDK in ASP.NET
Thu, 19 Jul 2012 07:00:09 +0000
When you download the source code from [caption id=“attachment_10266” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Export GridView Data to Excel using OpenXml”][/caption] http://www.codeproject.com/Tips/366446/Export-GridView-Data-to-Excel-using-OpenXml and try to transfer it to Excel from a single cell to another Excel file,  it is not easy. I have broken a big chunk into a smaller unit to just output one value to an Excel workbook using OpenXML SDK. Below is the part of code segments that doing this. //Simple private void CreateExcelParts(SpreadsheetDocument spreadsheetDoc, string str) { //Create a Workbook WorkbookPart workbookPart = spreadsheetDoc.AddWorkbookPart(); CreateWorkbookPart(workbookPart); //Create a worksheet Worksheet worksheet = new Worksheet() { MCAttributes = new MarkupCompatibilityAttributes() { Ignorable = “x14ac” } }; worksheet.AddNamespaceDeclaration(“r”, “http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/officeDocument/2006/relationships"); worksheet.AddNamespaceDeclaration(“mc”, “http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"); worksheet.AddNamespaceDeclaration(“x14ac”, “http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/spreadsheetml/2009/9/ac");   //Create sheetviews SheetViews sheetViews = new SheetViews(); SheetView sheetView = new SheetView() { WorkbookViewId = (UInt32Value)0U }; //Create a cell or range Selection selection = new Selection() { ActiveCell = “A1” }; //Append range to sheetview sheetView.Append(selection); //Append sheetview to sheetviews sheetViews.Append(sheetView);   int columnIndex = 0;   SheetData sheetData = new SheetData();   UInt32Value rowIndex = 1U; //Create a row Row row1 = new Row() { RowIndex = rowIndex++, Spans = new ListValue() { InnerText = “1:3” }, DyDescent = 0.25D }; //Create a cell and put the value in it Cell cell = new Cell() { CellReference = ExcelHelper.ColumnCaption.Instance.Get((Convert.ToInt32((UInt32)rowIndex) - 2), columnIndex), DataType = CellValues.String }; CellValue cellValue = new CellValue(); //Create a CellValue to store the value //Assign the value to new cell cellValue.Text = str; //Append the cellValue into cell cell.Append(cellValue); //Append the cell to row row1.Append(cell); //Append the row to sheetdata sheetData.Append(row1); //Append the sheetData to worksheet worksheet.Append(sheetData); WorksheetPart worksheetPart = workbookPart.AddNewPart(“rId” + (101).ToString()); //Append the worksheet into workbook workbookPart.WorksheetParts.ElementAt(0).Worksheet = worksheet; //Save the workbook workbookPart.Workbook.Save(); }   /// 
 /// Creates the workbook part. /// 
 /// The workbook part. private void CreateWorkbookPart(WorkbookPart workbookPart) { Workbook workbook = new Workbook(); Sheets sheets = new Sheets();   Sheet sheet = new Sheet() { Name = “Book” + 1, SheetId = Convert.ToUInt32(101), Id = “rId” + (101).ToString() }; sheets.Append(sheet);   CalculationProperties calculationProperties = new CalculationProperties() { CalculationId = (UInt32Value)123456U  // some default Int32Value }; workbook.Append(sheets); workbook.Append(calculationProperties); workbookPart.Workbook = workbook; }   The code segment is pretty much self-explanatory. You can also download a single solution from http://skydrive.live.com. The sample file name is GridToExcelNew.rar If you have any questions, feel free to ping me. My  MSN ID is chanmmn@hotmail.com.


Windows 8 will be available on October 26th 2012
Thu, 19 Jul 2012 04:42:50 +0000

Steven Sinofsky, Microsoft’s president of the Windows and Windows Live Division, has just announced at Microsoft’s annual sales meeting that customers will be able to get Windows 8 starting 26th October 2012, just in time for Christmas :) It will be available on PC hardware and also software upgrades. This new operating system, used in most of the world’s computer systems will be adapted to the tablets, including the Microsoft Surface. In the meantime, if you can’t wait to see for yourself how fast, fluid and beautiful Windows 8 is, you can download the Windows 8 Release Preview. If you’re planning to buy a computer in the meantime, we’ve got you covered, as Microsoft is offering a Windows Upgrade Offer. Be sure not to miss out on this!


Free virtual Windows 8 UX fundamentals training
Wed, 18 Jul 2012 08:49:12 +0000
Building an app from scratch is never easy. Building a high quality, beautiful, intuitive and highly usable app is even harder. But here are some great (and did I mention free?) online sources to help you get started with Windows 8 Development :) Check it out: Windows 8 UX fundamentals–free virtual training [caption id=“attachment_10242” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Visit http://www.windowsuserexperiencetraining.com/ to get started!”][/caption]   Metro style apps are the focal point of the user experience on Windows 8 Release Preview. Great Metro style apps share an important set of design traits that provide a consistent, elegant, and compelling user experience. With the first apps in the Windows Store, it’s exciting to see app designers begin to push the boundaries of the Metro style design principles on Windows 8. There’s plenty of innovation and beautiful apps to come. If you are a developer or designer creating a new user experience for your Metro style app and you want to learn how to get started, this free virtual training is perfect for you. The Windows User Experience team is running sessions on how to design great apps that use the platform in cool ways and follow UX guidelines. After the training, you’ll be able to design and build experiences that follow the tenants of great apps, use intuitive information architecture patterns, and use best practices for designing flexible layouts, touch, contracts, and much more. Agenda: •Embracing Metro style design – the principles of designing for Windows 8 •Less is more: Commanding, information architecture and navigation •Be fast and fluid: Designing for touch, mouse and keyboard •Be fast and fluid: Animations •Snap and scale beautifully: Designing apps with adaptive layouts •Using the right contracts •Connected and alive – how to design great tiles and notifications •Anatomy of an app: case study You can view  the training anytime, in the comfort of your office or home!


A Day in the Life of a Developer Evangelist
Wed, 18 Jul 2012 02:07:32 +0000
Technology permeates our everyday lives. [caption id=“attachment_10157” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“A Day in the Life of Developer Evangelist”][/caption]   And in a time where “software is eating the world” , we’ve become so used to the smartphones, tablets, computers and apps that most of us can’t imagine living without. All of which are enabled not just by a single company, but by developers all over the world. The phenomenon of collaborative development for the success of a technological platform has given rise to a new breed of technologists that are required in a tech company, otherwise known as “Developer Evangelism”. Developer Evangelism hasn’t been around for a long time. Whether it’s at a tech conference or even in our own homes, I’ve realized that our unconventional jobs require some explaination - so starting from this month, we’d like to start telling you a bit more about what we do at Microsoft.   [caption id=“attachment_10162” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Meet Chun Siong, a Developer Evangelist here at Microsoft Singapore.”][/caption]   Not a typical career path in the IT industry “When I started my academic journey in polytechnic focusing on IT, I always thought that I might end up becoming a programmer or in a system administrator type of job. The first time I was exposed to “evangelism marketing” was through the Microsoft Student Partners program.  Getting involved with the program for the past 5 consecutive years made me realize that this is a very unique and exciting role that exists in the IT industry. It’s definitely not your typical desk bound IT job.”   [caption id=“attachment_10167” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Checking into office”][/caption]   The role of the Developer Evangelist The DE is the tech company’s representative to the developer community helping to win the hearts and minds regarding the company’s platform. It is a technical role with the mission of engaging the broad community of developers and driving excitement around developer related technologies. DEs in general must be able to talk about technology intelligently and enthusiastically to developers, developer managers and senior management. Passion, curiosity, technical depth, and exceptional communication & presentation skills are key qualities that will help them succeed in this career path!   [caption id=“attachment_10168” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Coffee is an essential part of a DE’s life - we all need a jolt of energy in the morning to get things started!”][/caption]   Being an all-rounder While coding is an important facet of the job, there are many other hats that you need to put on as a developer evangelist. Most days you are out and about as an advocate  for the company - speaking and doing demos at some tech event or sales call, but it’s not unusual to find yourself organizing events, brainstorming for marketing campaigns, being a judge for tech contests such as Imagine Cup, troubleshooting for other developers and so on. A typical work week for Chun Siong involves “…meetings, both internal and external are a common item on the weekly calendar. We hold regular events for developers and attend lots of events as well. These networking and communication opportunities with developers and business owners make your calendar more interesting. You never know who you’re going to meet and what’s going to surprise you in an industry that’s moving so quickly. On a daily basis, I spend a couple of hours catching up on technology news and doing hands on learning on new technologies.” [caption id=“attachment_10187” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Prepping for presentations and meetings, coding and replying questions from the developer community are a big part of a DE’s life.”][/caption]   Noon comes and it’s time for lunch. For the DPE team at Microsoft, lunch is a great time to celebrate birthdays, catch up on each others’ lives and just in general enjoy all the good food that Singapore has to offer. We usually end up at Lau Pa Sat, where they serve up local dishes that are not bad (try the Ayam Penyet, the You Tiao, Porridge and Yong Tau Foo)   [caption id=“attachment_10189” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Lau Pa Sat - for hungry people working in Raffles Place”][/caption]   2pm. Nothing beats the adrenaline rush (and sometimes fear) you experience speaking in front of a large audience. Depending on your schedule and the day’s event, you almost always find yourself having to present at a conference or meeting, speaking to a variety of audiences - government officials, students, teachers, developers, CIOs, CEOs, startups and IT professionals. DE’s have to be well versed in a broad range of technologies - from mobile to cloud, hardware to software. It’s a never ending learning journey for us, especially since the industry moves quickly. [caption id=“attachment_10188” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Getting ready for a presentation - the key is practice!”][/caption]   What it takes to be an exceptional Developer Evangelist An exceptional Developer Evangelist not only speaks well and is truly passionate about enabling people with technology, but takes time to understand developers’ needs and is committed to the community. “Passion for technology and a willingness to share your knowledge with others is a must. While developer evangelists  differ in their personality, expertise and how they engage with people,  the common trait would be a strong interest in technology. If you are always following the startup scene /technology announcements /software and hardware development  news, you are one step closer to what is required of you as a developer evangelist.”   [caption id=“attachment_10190” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Public speaking - another important skill to have as a DE”][/caption]   Some nights are burnt with Hackathons. While tiring, it’s an amazing thing to be part of, especially when you have so many people gathered together with a single goal bring their ideas to reality through code. Rob Miles once said that developers are possibly the luckiest people in the world right now, because we are given the many tools and capabilities to showcase our creativity. We couldn’t agree more. It’s our job to help you achieve those goals. [caption id=“attachment_10220” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Somehow, you can never escape from troubleshooting for others and debugging”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10215” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The beautiful view from our office - great to gaze out at when you’re coding”][/caption]   What’s the first sign that you might be fit for a role as a developer evangelist? I think it’s to be a true geek at heart. “I started being interested in computers when I was 10. It was an exhilarating experience back then if you had a 486. This meant your PC could  support cd-roms. Over the years I got curious about tweaking software and optimization for  windows operating systems and occasionally testing out some Linux distros. At times I did some upgrading of computers like most folks do, playing around with PSU, RAM, CPU, HDD, Motherboard and more… In today’s context, I’m following really exciting development revolving around Mobile Devices, Cloud Computing, Search Engine Optimization, Solid State Disk and more… There are really amazing things and innovations coming out from student projects and the startup community as well.” [caption id=“attachment_10161” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Chun Siong is a Developer Evangelist in Microsoft Singapore - Geek at heart”][/caption]   We thrive on collaboration. If you have an interesting idea or seek to explore creative ways of using our technologies, feel free to reach out to us and we will be glad to dive in the deep end with you. We thrive on your success, be it personal or professional. From Windows 8 to Windows Phone Development to Kinect Development, if you live and breathe codes, get to know Chun Siong. **POST UPDATE** We are searching for a Developer Evangelist who is specialized in HTML5, JavaScript, Ajax, jQuery, ASP.NET. If you think you have what it takes to become a Microsoft Developer Evangelist - Drop us an email at a-johua@microsoft.com with your resume, blog link (if you have) and a short description of your interests! Looking forward to hearing from you!   Watch out for our next segment on what its like to be a Program Manager for Microsoft Bizspark!


Build a new class of apps for Microsoft Office and Sharepoint
Tue, 17 Jul 2012 03:31:15 +0000
[caption id=“attachment_10171” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Download the consumer preview here: http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/en"][/caption]

Office is one of the most popular software products out there, one that we are most familiar with and almost can’t live without.

Within 8 hours of announcement - the internet is already set abuzz with first looks, reviews and tonnes of screenshots of how the new Microsoft Office works.

Here’s a quick video from CNET and their hands-on review. [caption id=“attachment_10182” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Watch and read CNET’s full review of the Microsoft Office”][/caption]


Travel around the world with the app of the week - Bing Travel on Windows 8
Mon, 16 Jul 2012 02:00:12 +0000
App of the week is a weekly showcase of an awesome app developed on Windows 8 or Windows Phone. Got an app you love that you want us to talk about? Leave us a comment and tell us which app and why you love it! I’m a big fan of travel - as I’m sure most people in Singapore are (it’s such a small island that we have to get out some time or another!) One of my favourite apps on Windows 8 is Bing Travel. There are actually has a couple of Bing-powered apps in the Windows 8 Release Preview: News, Sports, and Travel. The Travel app is no doubt the prettiest one! Here are some must-try features. [caption id=“attachment_10143” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Starting screen of the Bing Travel app - highlights a featured destination”][/caption] I love how the clean interface makes the pictures stand out - makes me feel like packing up my bags and book the next flight out!   [caption id=“attachment_10144” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Can’t figure out where to go for your next holiday? Use the featured destinations feature to decide!”][/caption] By far the best feature of the app is the “Paranomas” View - for those consumed by wanderlust, indulge in the next best thing by visiting the landmarks in the comfort of your office or home with these views. [caption id=“attachment_10148” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Can’t get out? Well the next best alternative is to take a look at the Paranomas of all the beautiful landmarks that the country has to offer!”][/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_10146” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“A view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower”][/caption]   Instead of paying for travel guide books, read all about the destination from the Travel app and plan for your trips! [caption id=“attachment_10150” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Planning your trips is much easier - get a quick overview of landmarks and things to look out for”][/caption]   Once you’re all set and ready to make bookings - you can do it within the app itself with the Hotels and Flight search option.   [caption id=“attachment_10151” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Booking made simple - Hotels and flight search is also available on the Bing Travel app.”][/caption]   If you’ve downloaded Windows 8 RP - great! This is a default application! So try it out today and let me know what you think. Download the Windows 8 Release Preview  


Playing with the new Photosynth app on Windows Phone to capture paranomas!
Fri, 13 Jul 2012 03:00:30 +0000
Today the Photosynth team announced on their blog that the Photosynth app on the Windows Phone is finally launched! This is definitely one cool tool for photography fans out there. Using Photosynth, you can take photos of places that cry out for a full 360 panorama. [caption id=“attachment_10101” align=“alignnone” width=“591” caption=“Photosynth for Windows Phone”][/caption]    The Photosynth app for Windows Phone feels like magic. Start it up, move the camera around, and watch your panorama fill in. Make a 360 revolution and watch it join up. Capture the floor and ceiling too. When you’re done the shots are automatically stitched together, and the results are beautiful and immersive.   Here are some shots I took in our office. :)   In the pantry:     In the meeting room - looking out to MBS:   Definitely one of my favourite apps on Windows Phone! Get the Photosynth app on the Windows Phone it today if you haven’t!


Teaching Machines to Speak Is Helping Save Languages
Fri, 13 Jul 2012 02:00:32 +0000
[caption id=“attachment_10096” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Microsoft Translator Hub empowers businesses and communities to build, improve, and deploy customized automatic language translation systems”][/caption]   Today Microsoft announced the launch of its latest translation tool, the Microsoft Translator Hub. The tool enables people to customize translation and in some cases teach machines new languages. At the Worldwide Partner Conference today, Microsoft announced the commercial availability of the Microsoft Translator Hub, which enables people such as those who speak the Hmong language, businesses, developers, and partners to not only translate content, but build their own customized machine translation system. [caption id=“attachment_10097” align=“alignnone” width=“505” caption=“Microsoft Translator Hub”][/caption]   A shrinking planet Microsoft Hub Translator is now translating billions of words a day, and the new Microsoft Translator Hub gives people and businesses a more customizable translation tool than ever before.   The technology called “machine learning” relies on a large amount of data and on algorithms to help the machine create a model and learn about the data—in this case, a language. At Microsoft, the technological threads of machine translation go back nearly 20 years to the company’s Natural Language Processing Group.   Find out more about the project here!


Microsoft Cloud Summit 2012 Roundup
Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:30:53 +0000
 Thank you everyone who attended Cloud Summit 2012. It was a great event. I hope you guys enjoyed the keynote and all the breakout sessions. Next up is TechDays. Look out our blog for details of the event. Below is the Presentation decks from all presenters. Feel free to download and keep as reference. Keynote - http://sdrv.ms/P8UO82 Application Management with System Center Configuration Manager - http://sdrv.ms/N7FHvV Incident problem, Change and Asset Management - http://sdrv.ms/NyMe0Z Managing Private and Public Cloud - http://sdrv.ms/NAxZZv Microsoft Big Data - http://sdrv.ms/NrUm3z Service Delivery and Automation - http://sdrv.ms/NAyuTz SQL 2012 Always on High Availability Solution - http://sdrv.ms/NAz4ke SQL Server for Private Cloud - http://sdrv.ms/NOQ1pC The next generation of virtualization with Windows Server 2012 - http://sdrv.ms/NAzO95 Windows Azure Application Platform - http://sdrv.ms/NOQkRp Windows Azure Hybrid DC - http://sdrv.ms/NAAcEy


New! Microsoft Volume Licensing Training and Accreditation
Thu, 12 Jul 2012 05:19:57 +0000
I know many of you had licensing questions. There are couple of new Licensing Courses available now on http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com FREE to help you understand the fundamental of Volume Licensing. Microsoft’s new Licensing Training and Accreditation for customers will help you build foundational knowledge on licensing programs and solutions, and enable you to maximize the value of your software investments. Stand out from the crowd, and become a trusted advisor in your organization. Build expertise on Microsoft volume licensing and match your organization’s needs with the right licensing solution. Take this training at any time at no cost to you, enhance your skills, and become a Microsoft Licensing Expert. Preview Microsoft Licensing Programs Fundamentals and Licensing the Private Cloud today!


Highlights from Worldwide Partner Conference 2012
Thu, 12 Jul 2012 03:19:20 +0000
[caption id=“attachment_10081” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Listen in to updates from WPC 2012 here”][/caption]   The Worldwide Partner Conference(or rather known as WPC) 2012 is held every year for Microsoft and our partners to share ideas, get feedback and keep updated with the multitude of changes that have been happening in the world of technology.   [caption id=“attachment_10082” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Steve Ballmer provided an overview of new products coming to market in the next year, ushering in a new era for Microsoft that will present unprecedented opportunities for partners. Kurt DelBene, president, Microsoft Office Division, shared key news updates regarding Office 365. Tami Reller, CVP and CFO, Windows & Windows Live, provided updates and demos of the upcoming release of Windows 8.”][/caption] Some of the key highlights this year include (besides having Cirque de Soleil at the opening): • Windows Server 2012 will be released to manufacturers in August and be generally available in September. • A Community Technology Preview version is available now of a set of new technologies that will run on top of Windows Server and Systems Center. These new technologies will enable hosting-service providers to deliver capabilities consistent with services running on Windows Azure, our cloud-computing platform. That includes high-density website hosting and virtual machine hosting with self-service user interfaces that providers can use to service those websites and virtual machines. • A “Hyper-V Switch Program” for customers moving from competitor VMware to Microsoft’s Hyper-V. The program includes training and software tools.   Visit the WPC homepage to find out more today!


Announcing Winners of our Spiffy.sg Mascot Voting Competition!
Tue, 10 Jul 2012 06:04:05 +0000
[caption id=“attachment_10074” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Mascot B has won!! Cat with a jetpack :)”][/caption] Not long ago, we held the Mascot Voting competition for our audience to decide which best represents Spiffy and we’re happy to announce that Option B: Cat with a Jetpack has won! Thank you everyone for sharing and helping us decide - we’re excited to have it colored and ready to go for our new website!   Here are the winners of our contest (chosen at random):


Cleared for Liftoff! Helping you add the finishing touches to your Windows 8 Apps
Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:00:38 +0000
[caption id=“attachment_10057” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Windows 8 Cleared for Liftoff happens 25 and 26 July from 9am to 5pm!”][/caption]   Now is time to get your App into store; and to help out, Microsoft Singapore is running the first in a series of “Cleared for Liftoff” Sessions here!
Details
Windows 8 is now in Release Preview, with a Store ready for Singapore developers to publish their apps to the world. This event will assist you in taking your App idea or code and make it ready for App submission. The event will be run in an informal consultative style, on two separate days. You can pop along on either day. We will provide hands on assistance and guidance to move your Windows 8 App go to the next level. Come in at any time during Wednesday 25th or Thursday 26th July to our office at One Marina Boulevard. If you missed one of our earlier Developer Camps – don’t worry, pop along. We’ll be happy to have a chat and take your through developing apps for Windows 8. Alternatively, you can also attend Hackweekend (where our developer evangelists will be there as well to help you along) to get started on your app as well. Pop along, have some lunch, coffee, morning or afternoon tea. Ask your Windows 8 App question. Get your app into store. Become famous!   To arrange for a session, simply drop us an email at win8sg@microsoft.com and tell us the rough time that you’re coming in!


Dream . Build . Launch Hack Weekend - 50 developers and 12 hours
Mon, 09 Jul 2012 06:47:38 +0000
[caption id=“attachment_10030” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Hackweekend Begins”][/caption] Last Saturday marked our very first Hack Weekend, with 50 developers who came down to meet new friends and share their ideas. Hack Weekend is not a competition, but rather an opportunity for our developers to have a nice relaxed weekend to pursue their passion in programming in the nice Microsoft environment. [caption id=“attachment_10031” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Chun Siong, our Developer Evangelist, introducing Hackweekend”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10033” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Speaking about effectively prototyping your metro style apps”][/caption] Our developers were welcomed with a sumptuous breakfast, followed by an install fest by our helpful developer evangelists on site to get everyone quickly synced-up for development. Soon after, the event was kick-started by Chun Siong, our Developer Evangelist, who shared with the developers the nature of and what to expect from the event, as well as the growing market potential of our Windows 8 platform!   Subsequently, Joyce, a member of our Developer and Platform Evangelism (DPE) Audience Marketing Team, gave an introduction to designing and prototyping apps, and also provided everyone with resources with their app design. [caption id=“attachment_10038” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Li Huan pitching his idea for a Windows 8 App, Facecard”][/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_10036” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Pitching his idea for a sports application tracker”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10037” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Dennis pitching his idea for a video streaming app that allows you to annotate frames”][/caption] The exciting moment came when developers finally took the stage and shared with everyone their app idea. Many of their ideas were very fresh and unique, and some of these ideas included an alarm clock, a finance manager, a slot machine game, a message board etc.   Developers who pitched their ideas were awarded with a t-shirt, and subsequently teamed up with members who were either interested in their ideas, or had similar ideas to them. A startup team from CloudyRec also shared about their platform, which serves as a Backend as a Service, and provides a database for apps.   [caption id=“attachment_10040” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Nars, showing his prototype for the application”][/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_10042” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Demoing - My Finance app that looked very metrolicious!”][/caption] As the event coincides with the National Day Parade Rehearsal, one of the highlights of the event included the fireworks show. Our Microsoft Office overlooks the Marina Bay Reservoir and the floating platform, which gives an awesome view of the fireworks. During dinner time, the developers packed the viewing gallery at Olio, which provided an awesome view.   After the fireworks ended, 15 developers had the opportunity to showcase and demo their prototypes. Many of the ideas were brilliant, even though they may not be fully completed. [caption id=“attachment_10032” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“A fruitful weekend with awesome developers and fireworks!”][/caption] It’s great to see so many of our developers talking to each other, working with friends they have just met and having fun hacking. We’re looking forward to our next Hack Weekend, and having a great time together again! If you are interested to attend our next Hack Weekend on July 28th, please register at http://bit.ly/win8hacksg   Find more photos from the event here. Here are some application ideas from this Hackweekend: CardWallet - an electronic organizer of business cards, offering screen captures and tags of the cards. You can search your cards based on categories such as groups or company.   CC Messenger - A closed circuit message board is an easy-to-use metro style collaboration app that can be used among closed groups - perfect for friends, family and colleagues.   Tiny Quests - A casual RPG game that uses slots game mechanics to complete the game so that users can play on the go (perfect for when you are eating lunch and don’t have too many free fingers.   My Finance - A finance tracking application that allows you to keep track of your investment portfolio, CPF contribution, Gold and stock prices and many more. And many more!   Download the Windows 8 Release Preview  


How to create beautiful and meaningful apps - a prelude to Hackweekend
Fri, 06 Jul 2012 05:08:57 +0000
Our first Hackweekend is coming up and we thought it’d be good to help you start thinking about how to create beautiful apps.  (By the way we heard there will be fireworks going on with NDP rehearsal and we’re pretty excited because we’ve got a good view of that!) [caption id=“attachment_10010” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“A screenshot of the Bing Travel app - one of my favourite Metro apps”][/caption]   Originality of idea - How important is it? Some of my friends have asked me how important is the idea for your application? Well, if your app idea is original and valuable, all the better. Sometimes, however, even if the your app isn’t completely original, you can get off to a strong start once you improve on the user experience of other apps that you’ve benchmarked yourself against. So start with  a key sentence to determine the problem that you’re trying to solve. Once you’ve got a clear picture of the app you want to develop, you’ll need to validate your idea with wireframes by determining how it will fit into the existing market. The thing is, even if there are other apps like it on the market, you should establish how yours will be hotter, sharper, and catchier – not just in what it does, but how. Take 30 minutes to look at the competition on the app store, and what those other apps do well and not so well. What is the user experience like? Could you come up with a cleaner, simpler design for example? Start prototyping and make notes so you can refer back later to anything you thought was particularly good or bad. Alternatively, if you truly believe that your app idea is exceptionally unique and hasn’t be done before, it’s worth considering why that might be. Is there something you haven’t thought of – a reason why the idea might not work in practice? Hopefully it’s because you’ve hit upon an untapped opportunity, in which case - Awesome! Ultimately,  remember that it’s about execution, execution, execution.   [caption id=“attachment_10011” align=“alignnone” width=“580” caption=“This photo journal app is clean and simple. The interaction design makes it easy to keep track of your photos.”][/caption] Less is more - don’t pull a feature dump on your users  While it might be cool, be realistic about any advanced features you plan to include in your app. As designers and developers, we sometimes tend to get carried away with our ideas and want to implement all of them into a single app. Recognize that the layman probably doesn’t need all the cool functions and features. For example, integrating GPS features drains battery and sometimes makes people nervous about privacy issues. What you need to keep in mind is that the killer feature of your application  should only be one interaction away. Eg: Applying photo filters just takes one step on Instagram - upload and apply, tadah - you’ve got a pretty artistic photo. Identify core features, create a wish list of those features and how they fit into the core functions of the application. Attach priorities to the features based on your intentions and the feedback received.   Getting feedback on your app ideas They say the best problems that you should start to solve are those that you face yourself. So if you’re not the target user - go out there and experience it for yourself. Want to make an app to help aunties curate their shopping lists? Then go shopping with an auntie. Don’t be an armchair anthropologist and imagine in your head that the auntie will immediately embrace your app with open arms. Find out about her lifestyle, her habits and whether it even fits into her life  - for example, does she have a smartphone to begin with?   When introducing your idea, ask for honest feedback, both about the concept, and the way you plan to execute it – the way you see the app working, what it will do differently, how it will look and feel. Again, take notes. Try to embrace criticism (I know it’s hard but it’s necessary!)  – if this is constructive it will ensure you create the best possible product, avoiding any crucial oversights that could cost you user numbers once the app has entered the market place.   Singaporeans are generally a nice and polite bunch, so even if your idea or prototype sucks they’ll say that it’s “nice’. I find that the best way to know if you’ve got a good idea is  to ask if they would pay for your app immediately. Ask for the sale. If they’re not willing to do so, it probably means it’s not of value enough. Think about device choice With increasing fragmentation in devices, it important to find out about the range of different devices used by your sample group, to pin down anything that irritates them about the way existing apps perform on different screens. Use this valuable user research to help establish the platform(s) that will deliver the best user experience for your chosen app – and also the biggest potential audience. Will your app prove most useful, or come to life best, on a smartphone, tablet or PC/laptop? Are there particular features you’ll want to harness that will dictate the user device? Developing for multiple platforms all in one go may be taking on too much. There are a few options. The first is to start with the most popular platform for your app and for your user base and extend to other devices once you’ve gained some traction in the market. Alternatively, look at what you achieve with web-based development using HTML5 – while this may not let you exploit some of the features of individual platforms, it can offer a way to develop for multiple devices right from the start. You could also look at growing platforms like Windows 8 – there’s an opportunity to promote your product without the noise of a million other apps (but not for long!). Thinking ahead It’s important to think ahead however, so start to give some thought to the strategy you plan to adopt for developing, testing and promoting the product, as well as any external skills and resources you may need to draw on at each stage of the process. All of these measures will help shape your idea from the earliest stages so that your app is set up to be as successful as possible. Final tip: Don’t spend months on research – the app world moves quickly and you’ll have a valuable head start if you can get the first app of its type to market. Happy Hacking! Download the Windows 8 Release Preview  


A Day at the Premier Field Engineer Excellence Labs
Wed, 04 Jul 2012 01:40:34 +0000
We’re excited to announce that we are opening up exclusive Premier Field Engineer (PFE) consultation sessions for Windows 8 applications with high potential on the Windows Store towards the last few weeks of July. In a 2-hour session, our Microsoft Engineer will provide you with comprehensive consultation services and feedback on your application’s design, user experience and attend to any of your questions on Windows 8 development. Once your application has been certified by our engineer, you will receive a free and early Windows store developer token to publish your app on the Windows Store. Send in an email to win8sg@microsoft.com if you’re interested and we’d love to meet you! When I first started learning development for Windows 8 apps, I was a little intimidated as I thought I would be faced with a steep learning curve. I wanted to create 2 Windows 8 apps, and subsequently attend 2 PFE sessions the following week. Despite only some background with web design, HTML and JavaScript, it turned out that my skills actually came in handy and that writing a Windows 8 app isn’t that hard after all! During the PFE consultation sessions, I worked closely with an engineer from Philippines, where she gave me lots of advice on how I can improve my user interface to make it more appealing to users. She was extremely detailed in her feedback, and even suggested to me how large and where a font should be placed. When she suggested adding in more Windows 8 features such as the Privacy Policy and also to conform to different resolutions screens, she was patient enough to show me how to obtain the code when I mentioned that I had no idea how to do it. It was an extremely casual session, and I felt that I could connect with her very easily when talking ’tech’ terms. I was extremely thrilled when I received and earned my first Windows store developer token shortly after the session. Through the PFE sessions, I made a friend, learned a lot about Windows 8 apps development and earned a free token to have my apps published in the Windows Store. :) After getting to know other developers through the Windows 8 Dream Build Launch hackathon,  here’s what they have to share about their PFE experiences:


Announcing Hack Weekends!
Mon, 02 Jul 2012 05:57:49 +0000
[caption id=“attachment_9989” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Windows 8 Hack Weekends”][/caption]   Calling all developers and designers! With the announcement of Microsoft Surface, Microsoft Singapore is organizing a series of Hack Weekends for you to get started with Windows 8 Development. Currently in Release Preview, Windows 8 is equipped with Windows Store for Singapore developers to publish their apps to the world. Be one of the first few to publish your application onto our latest operating system. Dream. Build. Launch is a series of activities catered to the local developers in Singapore. In this series of Hack Weekend, we will help you turn your idea into a reality in 3 steps! 1. Dream –You have 60 seconds to pitch your app idea and gather interested team members. Learn about the capabilities of Windows 8, Microsoft Surface and the market potential of this new platform. 2. Build – You can create the prototype of your application with the assistance and guidance from our Developer Evangelist during the Hack Weekend, after which you can choose to complete your application over the next few weeks. 3. Launch – You can get exclusive access to developer token by demonstrating your prototype application to our engineers. If you’ve already started on your Windows 8 app idea, do pop along, have some lunch, coffee, morning or afternoon tea. Ask your Windows 8 App question. Get your app into store. Become famous! Don’t worry if you missed one of our earlier Developer Camps - Our friendly developer evangelists will be there to help you if you have any questions. Spaces are limited – we want to keep it small and cozy, so remember to sign up today! We will be increasing the frequency of our series if the response is good :) Register here: http://bit.ly/win8hacksg Dates: 7 July / 28 July / 9 August / 25 August 2012 Location: Level 21, Auditorium, Microsoft Singapore ONE MARINA BOULEVARD, 1 Marina Boulevard Singapore 018989 Time      Activity 09:00      Breakfast / Registration / Install Fest (If you don’t have Windows 8 RP and VS2012 installed we will do it for you then) 10:00      Team Formation 10:30      Hacking Begins 12:00      Lunch 13:00      Hacking continues 19:00      Dinner and Project updates 20:00      Hacking continues 22:00      Demo time 23:00      Mingle with your audience + Chill out drinks


The tech behind food blogging
Mon, 02 Jul 2012 05:51:34 +0000
Every Singaporean loves food, judging from the popularity of Singapore food bloggers such as superadrianme to the recent sale of hungrygowhere to Singtel for SGD12 million. But did you know about the technology that goes on behind the scenes, in order for local food websites to show you the latest must-go places to eat? We speak to co-founders of startup food editorial Six&Seven to find out more.   Website  Founded in October of 2011 by 24-year-old Jasper Lim and 23-year-old Saunders Shen, the new kid on the block has already made ripples in the local food writing community. Nominated as one of the top ten finalists for a 2012 Singapore Blog Award in the Food category, this fiercely independent site takes no prisoners with its often delightfully ruthless reviews of local dining establishments. Attracting a strong readership base of mainly urban professionals and executives, Six&Seven has also been invited to cover major local culinary events, such as the Singapore Restaurant Week, World Gourmet Summit and the upcoming Singapore Food Festival.  Food review sites are inherently visually-based, says co-founder Jasper. Visitors to such sites enjoy looking at photographs of meals either to suss out where to eat or simply enjoy the aesthetics of good food. Short, witty copy doesn’t hurt either. The site was coded with Eclipse, a free HTML editor, utilising Javascript for its dynamic elements such as the interactive slider on the top of the page, featuring latest posts about restaurants. “It was hard to manually adjust coding to ensure the photographs were all scaled properly when they rendered,” says Jasper. Hosted by US-based server Hostgator, Six&Seven runs on the popular Wordpress platform, using free native plugins such as Jetpack to monitor daily traffic. Other plugins used include SEO tools WordPress SEO and WordPress PopUp.   Photography  As for the glossy images that accompany the food review, Jasper used to use a Canon Digital IXUS 870 IS, finally upgrading to a Sony NEX-5 last year. Saunders relies on his trusty Sony NEX-C3. Their favourite models of camera lenses include the standard SEL1855 kit lens and SEL50F18, which they say are suitable for both food photography and the occasional “portrait-of-the-chef” shot. Photos taken are edited using CS6 - an often tedious process that takes a few hours. Although some may question the ethics of retouching, it is a necessary evil as the two founders report that lighting at the location of the review is often not ideal for publication.   Social Media As a small local startup, Six&Seven has relied heavily on social media for its publicity pushes. Jasper says Facebook helps drive traffic to the site, whilst Twitter is more of a tool to connect with their readers. Potential social platforms for expansion also include Burpple and Feecha. Another platform that food websites might not immediately think of using is Instagram, suggests Jasper. The popular service already has a wealth of existing users, and its image-sharing function lends itself to food photography. Hashtags such as #sgfood also help users find relevant content. While finding writers with a similar style and passion proves difficult, Six&Seven exclusively lets on that they will expanding their current two-man operation and branching out into entertainment with a soon-to-be-launched movie review section. Be sure to check out all these exciting developments on their site at http://six-and-seven.com/.


Free books on Windows Azure Service Bus for best practices and recommendations
Fri, 29 Jun 2012 04:21:04 +0000
Here are some complimentary ebooks on Windows Azure Service Bus for best practices and recommendations.
 
Windows Azure Service Bus Reference Seth Manheim and Ralph Squillace ReferenceThe Windows Azure Service Bus provides a hosted, secure, and widely available infrastructure for widespread communication, large-scale event distribution, naming, and service publishing. The Service Bus provides connectivity options for Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and other service endpoints – including REST endpoints – that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to reach. Endpoints can be located behind network address translation (NAT) boundaries, or bound to frequently-changing, dynamically-assigned IP addresses, or both.


Share, Vote and Win! Help us choose the new Spiffy Mascot
Fri, 29 Jun 2012 03:37:37 +0000
[caption id=“attachment_9947” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Share, Vote, Win! Help us choose the new Spiffy Mascot”][/caption] Now that the revamp is underway, we’re excited to share with you our new potential mascots! Help us choose your favorite and stand to win yourself a Starbucks card.   Here’s what you got to do: Step 1: Like our Facebook Page. Step 2: Choose your favorite mascot from above. Step 3: Share the image on your timeline stating the mascot of your choice!   Have fun voting!


WIM2VHD for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
Wed, 27 Jun 2012 05:11:24 +0000
The New version of WIM2VHD is now available for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. Download the tool from here What is WIM2VHD? It is a tool that allows you to create sysprepped VHD and VHDX images from any official build of Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012. This new release is completed rewritten in PowerShell. Support for creating VHD and VHDX images from .ISO files has been added! One more thing for those who prefer UI, A new (and completely optional) graphical user interface has been added, making the creation of VHD and VHDX images as simple as a few mouse clicks! Here is how it works 1. Run PowerShell as Administrator on your Windows Client or Windows Server. Run the following commands to allow PowerShell Scripts to run on your PC: set-executionpolicy unrestricted  2. Go to the directory where the WIM2VHD script is stored. Run the following PowerShell commands: .\convert-WindowsImage.ps1 -ShowUI  3. The UI tool will be loaded. Choose the .WIM file. For Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, you can find the file at .\Sources\install.wim You can choose different parameters like VHD or VHDx Format, Fixed or Dynamic disk.  4. Just wait for the PowerShell Commands to be fully executed and you will have a VHD or VHDx file ready 


Use Zune Pass on Windows 8 Release Preview
Wed, 27 Jun 2012 02:00:53 +0000
Windows 8 is the next iteration of Windows. For those not as familiar, Windows 8 is a radical change as Microsoft is introducing the Metro design for Windows. You can find out more about Metro Design.   With Windows 8, Microsoft is integrating a lot of its services to take advantage of its several platforms. Windows Phone, Xbox, Hotmail, Skydrive and other consumer services already uses one authentication via Live ID and it makes sense that the new OS will take advantage of this. If you’ve tried the pre-release versions of Windows 8, you can easily see the influence of this even from the login screen. With this integration, news of rebranding of some services like the Zune are abound and I wouldn’t be surprised if that happens. Anyways, if you’re using a Zune Pass, don’t fret as you can still access music just like before using the built in music app in Windows 8.  As I wanted to maximize the integration of the services with my new Windows 8. I logged in using my hotmail account synced with Zune and lo and behold it actually works.    The music app works just like the Zune app but some features are missing like the mixed view. Some of the navigation features are still missing and adding songs to the current playlist doesn’t exist.    I know this is still an app preview so no surprises that these features are missing and I’m guessing that they are focusing on the main features so far. There’s a bit of getting used to in the Music App. For one, there’s a lot of scrolling and clicking going on. Just to know the individual songs in the album, I have to do twice the clicks compared to the Zune app. Because of the design of Metro apps that has to cater for different form factors like tablets, this limits power users like me to navigate the app like everybody else. Whenever I use an app extensively, I learn as much shortcuts as I can as I want to get to the action as fast as I can. Browsers, email clients, OSes and such allow you to do this, but once an app is designed for multiple purposes it loses this advantage. I know Windows 8 has several shortcuts for you to get to the settings, the app bar, etc, but if you are navigating on the content of the application yourself, the developer has to create shortcuts of their own.    Overall, I’m very happy that the Zune will be continued (either as the Music app or something else) but I hope they empower the Music app just like the Zune. A nicely designed app that shows me what I want to see when searching and exploring new music. Come to think of it, the Zune app was one of the first applications to use the Metro language way back. A nice, cleanly made application that made great use of white space all through out. If you are using Windows 8 Release Preview and notice any gems like these, please comment on. Would love to know what you think of the apps and how you’ll be using it.  PS. Super happy that Skitch is on Windows 8. Skitch is a photo annotating app on the Mac OS.


Spiffy is looking for contributing writers!
Tue, 26 Jun 2012 03:47:30 +0000
 We launched Spiffy in October 2011 and its become the unofficial home for Microsoft Singapore’s Developer and Platform Evangelism team. We continuously strive to bring the most relevant and meaningful news to the Singapore tech community about Microsoft’s events and latest technologies. We’re in the process of a major revamp so that we can bring you a more enjoyable reading experience and in meantime we’re also looking for more writers to contribute to Spiffy! So if you are:


MCS 2012 SNEAK PREVIEW #02
Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:49:20 +0000
What can expect from Applications Management with SCCM2012 by MVP Edmund Lim? Sign up for Cloud Summit 2012 today! http://aka.ms/evbr5b


Sneak peek of 8 New Features of Windows Phone 8 for Developers
Thu, 21 Jun 2012 01:32:30 +0000
[caption id=“attachment_9873” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The new start screen on Windows Phone 8”][/caption]   Windows Phone 8 was announced just a few hours ago by the Windows Phone team in San Francisco. As a consumer, Windows Phone 8 will enable new hardware capabilities and expanded features that deliver a uniquely personal mobile experience. One of the things that’s enabled with the new hardware (such as NFC) is the Windows 8 Wallet. Windows Phone 8’s new digital Wallet feature does two great things. It can keep debit and credit cards, coupons, boarding passes, and other important info right at your fingertips. And when paired with a secure SIM from your carrier, you can also pay for things with a tap of your phone at compatible checkout counters. The start screen will become more customizable to your preferences. As you can see, we’re making Windows Phone 8 even more personal, with a new palette of theme colors and three sizes of Live Tiles, all of which are under your control. We know Live Tiles are one of the things current owners really love about their Windows Phones, and we wanted to make them even more flexible and unique. This short video shows the new Start screen in action. Watch this video to find out more. For Windows Phone 7.5 users, we will rollout a Windows Phone 7.8 update separately that will bring some of Windows Phone 8’s user interface changes to existing devices. For developers, new hardware in Windows Phone 8 will enable a more unified Windows platform, creating more opportunities for developers and the Windows Phone ecosystem. Windows Phone 8 will share the same kernel, file system, media foundation, device drivers, and parts of the security model from Windows 8. The Windows NT architecture enables Windows Phone 8 to support multi-core processors, device encryption, removable storage with microSD cards, and a whole host of improvements for IT pros and businesses. Here are 8 New Features of Windows Phone 8 for Developers: 1. SQLite - embedded database engine SQLite,will be available for phone developers. SQLite has been previously unavailable on Windows Phone (as it’s written in C). Now you can have access to use these libraries.   2. Speech/ VoIP (Talking with apps) API - Windows Phone 8 will include a conversational speech recognition system based on the TellMe technology used in Windows Phone 7. What’s interesting though, is that developers will be able to add new nouns and verbs to TellMe so that users can use the same conversational style to perform specific actions within applications.   3. Gaming Middleware - Middleware partners such as Havok Technology and Autodesk will support Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 8 games developed using the Havok Technology Suite, will feature immersive and real 3-D worlds, highly realistic characters and cinematic visuals.   4. Native Code - Native code support: Windows Phone 8 has full C and C++ support, making it easier to write apps for multiple platforms more quickly.   5. Multitasking background location - With the next version of Windows Phone, real background multitasking will be opened up to all devs, thanks to libraries provided directly by Redmond. This means that Windows Phone 8 now allows location-based apps like exercise trackers or navigation aids to run in the background, so they keep working even when you’re doing other things on your phone.   6. HTML5, C# (For Both Win 8 and Phone 8 Devs) and C++ (For Games Dev) - Now developers can write native code, as well as XNA, C#, and HTML5. You can also now use the full Microsoft .NET suite instead of the previous Compact Framework.   7. Enterprise Hub (Custom App for internal information)   8. Enterprise Private App Store - Companies can create their own Windows Phone 8 Hub for custom employee apps and other critical business info.   Follow more news about Windows Phone 8 here or check out the Windows Phone team blog to find out more new features!


Dream.Build.Launch Hackathon 2012 Winners Announced!
Wed, 20 Jun 2012 15:59:11 +0000
After all our participants’ hard work last weekend, our judges too, have worked very hard this whole afternoon to decide on the top 10 apps submitted for the competition. There were a total of 47 apps submitted (many of which were really awesome), and our judges had a to make very difficult choices today to decide the winners. A special mention award was specially created too! Once again, the prizes include: - Dell Inspiron 14R Special Edition Laptop (1st prize) - Nokia Lumia 900 (2nd prize) - Xbox 360 4GB Kinect Bundle (3rd prize) - Limited Edition Microsoft Arc Mouse (4th-10th prize) Prizes are awarded to each member of the winning team (up to two members per team). We will also be notifying potential developers for free consultation sessions with our Premier Field Engineers, and also free and priority access into our Windows Store. Results will be revealed from 21 June 2012 (Thursday) 12pm onwards.   Top 10 List


Highlights from Dream Build Launch Hackathon - 150 developers and 24 hours to launch Windows 8 apps
Tue, 19 Jun 2012 07:48:57 +0000
Dream Build Launch is a campaign for local developers in Singapore working on Windows 8 platform. We hold regular events, competitions, hackathon, workshops, trainings and more for the community. Our very first Dream Build Launch event kicked off last Saturday morning, with 150 enthusiastic developers working together to build a Windows 8 application within 24 hours. The theme this year is I <3 SG. We had 3 talks to lead developers into the development process. First, a Metro design crash course by our Developer Evangelist, Chun Siong, on how to create an appealing looking application for users quickly. The next two talks were hands-on sessions on how to create Windows 8 apps using HTML5/Javascipt and C# and XAML. Here are some highlights from the Hackathon: [caption id=“attachment_9813” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Our very own Terence, talking about the big prizes we are giving out to winners of the hackathon!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_9815” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“WIndows 8 Developers listening intently to the introduction and rules of the hackathon”][/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_9820” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The HTML5 and Javascript track for WIndows 8 development by our Audience Marketing Manager - Alex”][/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_9812” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Our participants hacking away into the night!”][/caption]   We had a special challenge to encourage our hardworking developers who were cracking code throughout the event. If they could get more than 100 points on Fruit Ninja, they would be able to win a free $10 Starbucks card, kindly sponsored by our very own ninja.   [caption id=“attachment_9816” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“As a coffee break surprise, we had a special appearance by our very own ninja! Are you better than him at Fruit Ninja?”][/caption]   [caption id=“attachment_9822” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“The ultimate showdown between ninjas begins”][/caption]   Night fell.. but we still saw crowds of people staying behind to work on their apps!   [caption id=“attachment_9819” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“It’s 3am at night.. and they’ve still got so much energy! Amazing.”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_9818” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Taking a short nap before going at it again.”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_9817” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Deep in team discussions!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_9814” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“One of our friends from Japan, Masa Morishita, sleeps and dreams about Javascript for Windows 8 development!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_9821” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“At the testing station with Windows 8 Tablet devices to test applications before submission”][/caption]   50 new applications in various categories (games / food / travel / quizzes / history) were submitted for this Hackathon and we are psyched to reveal the winners soon! It’s great to see so many of our developers talking to each other and having fun hacking. We hope that you managed to make new friends and had tonnes of fun at the event as well!   Remember to join our Windows 8 Singapore Developer community on Facebook and keep yourselves apprised of the latest news here at Spiffy!


Microsoft announces Surface: new family of PCs for Windows
Tue, 19 Jun 2012 03:32:00 +0000
In a recent global study by Swedish telco equipment maker Ericsson, Singaporeans ranked first in the world when it came to the percentage of Internet users owning smartphones. The city-state also came in second in tablet ownership, with almost one in three people here owning a tablet device. With this high user penetration rate, it seems that Windows Surface, a tablet designed to run Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT operating systems, will be a device of interest to many local users. [youtube]http://youtu.be/dpzu3HM2CIo[/youtube] How shiny is this.   Software and UI  It’s no surprise industry experts have been speculating on the release of a Windows tablet since the recent release of Windows 8. With its extremely touchscreen-friendly UI, it was clearly designed for use on touch-sensitive devices. Surface comes in two flavours: RT and Pro. The RT version runs only Metro apps - suitable for light users familiar with Apple’s iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab, while the Pro version runs the full OS of the Windows 8 desktop. According to Gizmodo, the RT version will launch alongside Windows 8, and the Ivy Bridge Pro version available 90 days later. It is also important to note that the Pro version behaves more like a full-feature computer than a typical tablet, a trait sure to be elaborated on in future marketing releases.   Features Originally released as a large-screen interface for “tables, counters or walls” (the original website for Surface has already been taken down), Windows Surface has gone portable.  In a nutshell, Surface is 9.3mm to 13.5mm thin, has a kickstand for easy display and weighs in at 0.68kg to 0.9kg. The casing is made out of VaporMg (a fancy term for magnesium, really) and its screen is optically bonded, a feature Microsoft says was specifically engineered. If you like going into the nitty gritty, the official spec sheet can be found here.   Type Cover However, the most exciting accessory has to be the Surface’s magnetic 3mm Type Cover. It doubles as a full, extremely thin keyboard with a touchpad, allowing the Surface to have all the functionality of a full laptop without the dreaded bulk. This is a big point for me in particular, because I feel like I still need my physical keyboard around - I hate typing on a screen. It’s an illness, I know.  With a built-in accelerometer, Type Cover prevents unwanted input when folded and can also detect contact points with a high degree of sensitivity so simply resting fingers on the Type Cover won’t result in any input.   Cost One crucial point yet to be revealed with the Windows Surface is its price planning. Although Microsoft has stated that prices will be “competitive”, it remains to be seen whether the Surface will be a hit, but I think it’s one of the most recent promising announcements by Microsoft to date.  To keep yourself up to date on the latest developments for the Windows Surface tablet, click here.


MCS 2012 SNEAK PREVIEW #01
Mon, 18 Jun 2012 07:59:52 +0000
Listen up to Raymond on what his gonna present at Microsoft Cloud Summit 2012, July 4. Remember to reserve yourself a seat HERE.


System Center 2012 SP1 Community Technology Preview 2 (CTP2) is now Available
Mon, 18 Jun 2012 02:36:19 +0000
System Center was voted at TechEd North America this year as the Best Microsoft Product. At TechEd NA 2012, System Center 2012 SP1 CTP2 was announced, there are many exciting new features coming up with CTP2. There is a recorded session from TechEd NA on Channel 9 covering what is new in SP1 http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2012/VIR201 Below is list of key new features. All components now support Windows Server 2012 RC and SQL Server 2012.


The Evolution of the Computer Science Degree in Singapore
Fri, 15 Jun 2012 07:54:32 +0000
[caption id=“attachment_9745” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Tim Berners Lee, is a computer scientist who invented the worldwide web. With Robert Cailliau, he sent the first HTTP communication between client and server. He has a first class degree in Physics and is a MIT professor. Credits: Wikipedia”][/caption]   Bill Gates and Steve Jobs might have made it fashionable to be in the technology business and inspired a new generation of tech entrepreneurs, but Computer Science was not regarded as discipline that required a specific school to teach until recently. Back in the 70s, you wouldn’t say that “I have a degree in Computer Science.” A much closer reality would be “l took courses that were compsci-related in the math, engineering, physics departments.”  On most university campuses, CS grew out of mathematics or engineering departments. Now that a few of our dear interns at Microsoft are about to embark on their university life come August, I start to wonder, when was the first Computer Science degree first introduced in Singapore and how has it evolved? Here’s a slice of history from Singapore:   [caption id=“attachment_9741” align=“alignnone” width=“600” caption=“The old block of NUS’ School of Computing before it moved to the new building in 2008.”][/caption]   The first university to introduce a computer science related degree is the National University of Singapore. The School of Computing originated from the time before Singapore University and Nanyang University merged to form NUS. Back then it was known as the Department of Computer Science. After the merger in 1980, The department became the Department of Information Systems and Computer Science (DISCS) within the National University of Singapore. It became a fully fledged faculty—the School of Computing—on 1 July 1998, comprising the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Information Systems.   [caption id=“attachment_9755” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“NUS School of Computing now occupies a swanky new building, smack in the middle of Arts and Business, where there are more females around. Photo Credit: Wikipedia”][/caption] The School has about 2,000 students and it’s comp sci department offers 4 degree programs and interesting research programs such as the Turing Program (named after Alan M. Turing who provided the first model of algorithm and computation - the Universal Turing Machine-that allowed us to analyse what a computer can and cannot do) and the von Neumann program (named after John von Neumann who created the von Neumann architecture -that became the standard of computer architecture)  ! The rise of tech entrepreneurship and growth of “hacker culture” is also very prominent amongst NUS SoC students. NUS Hackers has been organising many talks and weekly meetings called Friday “Hacks” that include one or two technical talks, followed by a hacking session.   [caption id=“attachment_9754” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“NTU’s School of Computer Engineering, Photo Credit to, Li Xiaowei.”][/caption]  


What happens when Darth Vader visits your booth at Echelon 2012
Thu, 14 Jun 2012 05:47:31 +0000
[caption id=“attachment_9707” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Darth Vader and Storm Trooper playing out Dance Central 2, Kinect had a hard time detecting his costume”][/caption]   Microsoft Singapore was part  of Echelon 2012 to promote our upcoming Windows 8 developer program  Dream Build Launch. We had a great time showing audiences the brand new version of  Windows 8 [Release Preview]. Word of our booth spread far beyond Earth and we were soon visited by Darth Vader and his Storm Troopers who were curious of the new Metro interface Here are some more images of their visit: [caption id=“attachment_9716” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Darth Vader and Storm troopers figuring out Windows 8”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_9718” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Fruit Ninja Vader - unfortunately being  ruthless henchman of Emperor Palpatine doesn’t help you with a high score”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_9708” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Darth Vader and his team with Windows 8 and the DPE (Developer and Platform Evangelism) team!”][/caption] [caption id=“attachment_9722” align=“alignnone” width=“610” caption=“Final Pose with Windows 8”][/caption]   Thank you for liking our page and keeping in touch with us! We hope to see you around and remember to check out our Windows 8 developer program  Dream Build Launch. See ya!


Microsoft Cloud Summit 2012 is coming to you!
Thu, 14 Jun 2012 05:11:47 +0000
There were a lot of coverage on the robust power of System Center 2012 and Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V in Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) 2012 and you might have missed it since the announcements happened during our sleeping hours. Not to worry because we got good news for you! Microsoft Singapore is bringing the best of MMS 2012, Microsoft Cloud Summit 2012, to you this July. In this event you’ll learn about the evolving role of IT as cloud innovator and get a better understanding of what Private Cloud is all about. It will be a day jam packed with learning opportunities that will help you accelerate your career and solve today’s most challenging technical problems while preparing for tomorrow’s innovation. Below is the event details: Date: 4 July 2012 Time: 9am - 5pm (registration starts from 8.30am) Venue: Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel 392 Havelock Road Singapore 169663 Grand Ballroom, Level 4 Who Should Attend:


SQL User Group June Meet Up - Big Data
Wed, 13 Jun 2012 03:19:56 +0000
Join us at this special SQL User Group event in collaboration with BigData.SG User Group, an Analytics and Real Time Computing Community of Singapore. To find out more about BigData.SG User Group, do visit http://www.bigdata.sg/  Often, when companies speak of “big data” it implies the need for a strategy for dealing with large quantities of data. Join us in this session and hear about Microsoft and its Big Data vision and strategy. William Tay, Principal, Application Platform, Microsoft Singapore will show how to unlock business insights from all your structured and unstructured data, including large volumes of data not previously activated, with Microsoft’s Big Data solution. Microsoft’s end-to-end roadmap for Big Data embraces Apache Hadoop™ by distributing enterprise class Hadoop based solutions on both Windows Server and Windows Azure. Our solution is also integrated into the Microsoft BI tools such as SQL Server Analysis Services, Reporting Services and even PowerPivot and Excel. This enables you to do BI on all your data, including those in Hadoop.  Xavier Conort will be talking about Data Analysis competitions on Kaggle.  Xavier is currently ranked #2 worldwide on Kaggle!  http://www.kaggle.com/users/17379/gxav-xavier-conort Details of the event: Day/Date: Tuesday, 19th June 2012 Time: 1830pm - 2130pm Buffet Dinner will be provided at 1830pm – 1900pm Venue: One Marina Boulevard, NTUC Center, #21-00 The BigData.SG User Group will also be trying something new and interspersing the presentations with a few lightening talks from BigData.SG members in attendance.  Lightening talks are 1-5 minute talks that summarize a topic.  Pick something that’s interesting to you: a book you read, an algorithm you learned, a project you are working on–and share!  It’s very informal and it’s a lot of fun. It’s a great way for the other members to know about cool and interesting things you have stumbled upon! RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/318172111600955/ Website: http://www.bigdata.sg Google News Group: https://groups.google.com/group/bigdatasg/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bigdatasg/ See you at the event!


How System Center 2012 Manages VMWare Infrastructure
Mon, 11 Jun 2012 13:18:55 +0000
Windows Server and System Center forms the platform of Microsoft Private Cloud. One of the key capabilities that System Center 2012 delivers is heterogeneous management. You are empowered to manage different hardware, three major hypervisors in the market, different flavor of Enterprise grade OS, and different apps. I always got asked how System Center 2012 manages VMWare environment. While here is a quick Demo video that I made to show you how System Center 2012 can do. I showed two key capabilties


A different kind of social security
Mon, 11 Jun 2012 01:43:09 +0000
If you’re a member of LinkedIn, Last.fm or eHarmony, it might be a good idea to immediately change your password. In case you haven’t heard, these three sites have been the latest social networks to suffer from massive security breaches, thanks to an alleged Russian hacker leaking their databases of passwords. Given the pervasive trend of people using one password across platforms, these successions of leaks might severely impact the privacy strength of all your online accounts. Go reset your LinkedIn password here. Then, if you’re curious, find out if it was one of the 6.5 million passwords leaked here. Online security has always been an important part of any open network, despite the often ridiculous lengths IT departments will go to in order to ensure that users choose a strong passkey. Here are some tips to beef up your own passwords. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcG7ftYMObA[/youtube] Sadly, this has happened to me too many times to count.   Don’t be lazy This may sound obvious and cliched, but stay away from things like “Password1” or “letmein”. You’d be surprised how many people still use them, as seen from SplashData’s recent study on the most-used passwords of 2011. According to its CEO Morgan Slain, the list was compiled from files containing millions of stolen passwords posted online by hackers. In descending order, they are:


Secure Cloud Deployment From Beginning with SCM 2.5!
Fri, 08 Jun 2012 05:51:32 +0000
Does automating the compliance management of your desktop, virtualized, and private cloud environments sounds good? I’m talking about the new evolution of the Microsoft Security Compliance Management tools series- SCM 2.5 is now available for download! Besides the key features from the previous version, SCM 2.5 offers  new baselines for Exchange Server (2007 and 2010) and several updated client product baselines! SCM now enables you to quickly configure and manage computers and your private cloud using Group Policy and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager. Here are the key features in SCM 2.5:


Create a WordPress Blog on Azure within 2 Minutes
Fri, 08 Jun 2012 02:11:28 +0000
Microsoft just announced Windows Azure preview capabilities in a blog post from Bill Laing and a feature article on the Microsoft News Center. I am all excited about this preview capabilities especially capabilities to create Linux VM and Website. I just login my Azure account and created a WordPress Blog within 2 minutes. Here is how. I login to the Azure manage portal, activate the preview feature under Account. There I get to see the new Azure management portal.  Go to website services and select create a website. There are options of creating website, VM, and storage etc. I select Web site -> From Gallery.  I just choose BLOGS and select WordPress. Of course there are other options like ECOMMERCE, FORUMS, and CMS as shown in below.    It will go ahead and install WordPress, then prompt me for some basic information like site title. Admin name and password.  Once it is done, and I have my WordPress ready.  I can then go in and install themes and plugin just like any other WordPress site. 


Real or Instagram-ed?
Thu, 07 Jun 2012 01:30:21 +0000
It used to be that the only people who actively used image filters in the past were those who either knew their Javascript or had some basic working knowledge of Photoshop. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNsI9g_eiyU[/youtube] Or you can use Photoshop to create Instagram filters, the slow and painful way! With the recent advent of filter-applying applications, there has been a surge of social media-savvy folk who easily share automatically-enhanced photos of their friends, their meals and random cats with the touch of a button. The emotional appeal such apps like Instagram garnered also play a significant role in technological exclusivity and social status, demonstrated most clearly with the uproar by iOS users once an Android version of the app was released. Because only Apple users should have the honour of uploading heavily-filtered photos of sunsets.  Taken from: http://www.darcyeden.com/posts/2011/7/26/sunset-sloans-lake.html After Facebook recently bought Instagram for a billion dollars, it’s easy to see how software with a focus on user-editing seems to be the way to go for the social networking industry. It’s true - the subject most people are interested in tend to be themselves, a trait likely to encourage more narcissistic forms of personal software, unfortunately. Below, you will find a slideshow of some images. Can you tell which ones are authentic (i.e. no enhanced filters) and which ones have been Instagram-ed? [SlideDeck id=‘9476’ width=‘100%’ height=‘300px’]   It might surprise you to know that only Photo 3 has been digitally altered. All the rest are un-retouched, albeit old, polaroids. Maybe it’s time to reconsider that photography course, eh? Photos taken from: http://www.flickriver.com/groups/55453478@N00/pool/interesting/ http://rockinonphotography.blogspot.sg/2011/05/unenhanced-vs-enhanced-photos.html


Free ebook To Help You With Programming Windows 8 Apps
Wed, 06 Jun 2012 06:00:08 +0000
 The Windows Team has decided to help celebrate the Windows 8 Release Preview and the Visual Studio 2012 Release Candidate, by releasing a preview edition of Programming Windows 8 Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, by Kraig Brockschmidt. Download a PDF of the ebook here (4.34 MB).   Download the ebook’s sample code here (27.5 MB).   (We’ll release EPUB and MOBI versions of the final ebook.)   This book is about writing Metro style apps for Windows 8 using HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. The primary focus will be on applying these web technologies within the Windows 8 platform, where there are unique considerations, and not on exploring the details of those web technologies themselves. For the most part, then, the author assumes that you’re already at least somewhat conversant with these standards. We will cover some of the more salient areas like the CSS grid, which is central to app layout, but otherwise I trust that you’re capable of finding appropriate references for everything else. This version covers the first 4 chapters of the final e-book. Chapter 1 The Life Story of a Metro Style App: Platform Characteristics of Windows 8 Chapter 2 Quickstart Chapter 3 App Anatomy and Page Navigation Chapter 4 Controls, Control Styling, and Basic Data Binding Chapter 5 Collections and Collection Controls Chapter 6 Layout Chapter 7 Metro Style Commanding UI Chapter 8 State, Settings, Files, and Documents Chapter 9 Input and Sensors Chapter 10 Media Chapter 11 Purposeful Animations Chapter 12 Contracts Chapter 13 Tiles, Notifications, the Lock Screen, and Background Tasks Chapter 14 Networking Chapter 15 Devices and Printing Chapter 16 Extensions Chapter 17 Apps for Everyone: Localization, Accessibility, and the Windows Store Chapter 18 Services Have fun!


Dream Build Launch - Windows 8 Hackathon for Students
Wed, 06 Jun 2012 02:00:12 +0000
 Be part of the Windows 8 Hackathon in Singapore, a one-day event focused on hardcore hacking of your Windows 8 Metro Style apps! Join us for a low-key, informal day of coding. Don’t worry, plenty of coffee will be available. We will start off with introductions and then quickly go into hack-mode so that you can work on your app. At the end of the day, you can show off your app in its current state (no worries, we are all friends here!) and then find out how to get your app into the Windows Store. Please note that attendees of the Windows 8 Hackathon will be given priority for registration to the Windows 8 Application Excellence Lab. You will need to attend an Application Excellence Lab in order for your Windows 8 Metro Style app to be one of the first from Canada in the Windows Store! The theme for this Hackathon is I <3 SG. We want to have more apps for our sunny island in the Singapore Windows 8 App Store. :) We’ve lined up a number of great prizes for you, so don’t miss out! REGISTER HERE: http://bit.ly/LRvSjN Event details Start Date/Time: 16 June 2012 (Sat), 9am End Date/Time: 17 June 2012 (Sun), 11am Venue: Microsoft Singapore 1 Marina Boulevard, Level 21 Auditorium Singapore 018989 16 June (Sat) 9:00am - 9:30am            Registration 9:30am - 9:45am            Welcome and Introduction 9:45am onwards             Commencement of Hacking 9:45am - 10:45am          Metro Design Step-by-step (Optional) 10:45am - 12:15pm        Javascript  + HTML5 Workshop (Optional) C# Workshop (Optional) 12:15pm - 1:15pm          Lunch 5:30pm-6:30pm              Dinner 9:30pm – 11:00pm         Supper   17 June (Sun) 9:00am – 10:00am          Breakfast 11am                              Submission of Apps


Dream Build Launch - Hands-on Windows 8 Development for Hackers in Singapore
Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:07:44 +0000
     Dream Build Launch is Microsoft Singapore’s Windows 8 developer program. Along the way, we will help you with advice on how to develop a Windows 8 application that will be made available to millions of people worldwide on the Windows Store. There’s never been a better time to dream big and develop bigger.   Join the Windows 8 Singapore Developer Community : https://www.facebook.com/groups/dreambuildlaunch/. Here are some resources you might need to get started:


New Updates With Windows 8 Release Preview and Windows Store
Tue, 05 Jun 2012 03:27:28 +0000
 After giving you the first taste of Windows 8 two months ago, we are back with the Release Preview. The Release Preview is the final test version of Windows 8 before we go ahead with RTM, Release to Manufacturing. Between that time, we will still be making changes to Windows 8, which you can follow at the Windows Team blog.  Here are 5 new changes in the Release Preview: ·        Local Windows Store: Singapore is one of them! Featuring apps like Channel News Asia, Straits TImes, Razor TV and many more new Metro style apps like Wikipedia, other News and Sports apps  and Bing Travel ·        Improvements to the Mail, Photos, and People apps that initially debuted with the Windows 8 Consumer Preview ·        Improved multi-monitor support ·        A touch-friendly, secure and power-optimized Adobe Flash Player is now fully integrated into IE10 ·        First browser to feature Do Not Track “on” by default, giving you more choice and control over their privacy Here’s a quick video that showcases the interface for Windows 8 RP at work and play:    The Windows Store now also supports app submission for local markets and Singapore is one of the countries. We’ve gotten great response from developers here who are planning to build Metro style apps and will be holding events such as hackathons, hands-on-labs for you to get started building them! Updates for Developers: Improved Visual Studio templates Another area where we have made a lot of improvements is templates in Visual Studio. We’ve made lots of updates to our templates and even added a new one so that it is easier for you to start a new project and get a great app up and running in no time.


How to solve your data cap blues
Tue, 05 Jun 2012 02:20:26 +0000
Recent news that Singaporean telcos are lowering the generous data cap of their mobile price plans have sent most local smartphone users into a frenzy. No more will you have the convenience of tethering your laptop to your mobile without considering if watching that Youtube clip will cost you an additional SGD30 (Or if you’re with Singtel, SGD88) extra in your phone bill that month. Here’s the issue in a nutshell.  According to media reports, SingTel will remove its current 12 GB cap and replace it with a lower 2 GB limit for its entry-level plan. The higher data plans are capped at 3 GB, 4 GB and 12 GB. Starhub followed suit with plans to cap their plans at 1 GB, 2 GB and 5 GB. And all this is likely to be implemented by July of this year.    M1, what say you? Cue the shock and horror. So what does this all actually mean for the average smartphone user? Firstly, I doubt most people actually finish using their allotted 12 GB per month. Mobile apps don’t consume a lot of data due to the inherently compact nature of mobile surfing. I know I don’t even come close, unless I am actively out and about using my phone as a portable modem. Secondly, many industry insiders have also pointed out that this move has been a long time coming. Singaporean telcos have been extremely generous with mobile data caps when you compare them to telcos overseas - a mobile plan on AT&T in the United States only has a measly 200 MB cap per month. But of course, Singapore is a lot smaller geographically, you say. Do note that our price plans for data per month are also significantly lower than the average price plans overseas. On the bright side, this may also mean faster surfing speeds on the go as this cap discourages excessive data usage, freeing up those clearly overstrained base stations. To help you out more, here are some data usage monitoring apps for your Windows phones (built-in!), iPhones and Android phones so you don’t get a heart attack the next time your bill comes in the mail.


Windows Server 2012 RC is out and here are some awesome things
Mon, 04 Jun 2012 02:37:36 +0000
I know everyone knows Windows 8 went Release Preview. You probably are downloading it or already downloaded. As a infrastructure person, you might want to check out Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate too! It is released together with Windows 8 RP. There are some huge changes that I see.  There is a feature comparison document release on Comparison between Windows Server 2008R2 Hyper-V and Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V. There are some very interesting figures there. Make sure you take a look.  It also describes what are the features not supported or partially supported in 2008 R2 Hyper-V that becomes fully supported in Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V. It is a pretty exciting list. Below is a high level comparison, and some are quite different from previous beta release.   Not only Hyper-V is improved, there are a lot more new features coming with Windows Server 2012 RC. You can download the White Paper for the RC release and have a detail view on what are the new features.


How to Test Your Startup Idea for $50
Fri, 01 Jun 2012 01:00:12 +0000
We’ve heard a lot of startup ideas from running Microsoft BizSpark and hosting four cycles of Founders’ Institute Singapore.
 
More often than not, founders tend to build their full product, even before testing it out on their audiences, which might not be the wisest thing to do.
 
Here’s a quick and interesting infographic to let you test out your idea quickly before committing all your resources.
 

by annavital. Browse more Technology infographics.
My favourite has got to be “Buy a Cool Costume” and pass out your fliers outside a really large tech event. Guess what! There’s one coming really soon by e27 Singapore and we’ll be there!


Windows Server 2012 era - Cloud Datacenter Storage Approaches
Wed, 30 May 2012 06:44:13 +0000
In Windows Server 2012, there is a new capability to leverage SMB File Server for Virtualization and Private Cloud. There three main mode the deployment:

Single-node File Server - Standalone file server is not highly available, it provides the most inexpensive file server solution
Dual-node File Server - This is probably most common file server configuration, providing continuous availability (via SMB transparent failover) at a low cost. Using shared Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) storage (just-a-bunch-of-disks [JBOD] s or a SAS-based Storage Array), this solution can scale to a few hundred disks
Multi-node File Server - This file server cluster is highly scalable. This cluster can leverage features like SMB Scale-Out and SMB Direct to create a shared storage infrastructure to serve dozens and even to hundreds of Hyper-V nodes. Using a 10GbE or InfiniBand to connect the Hyper-V computer nodes to the file servers has huge cost saving potential compare to Fibber Channel.

Below diagram illustrates the these three modes.  To understand in details how SMB file server really works Jeffrey Snover’s Blog Post One of the questions that I get a lot is how about performance?   One of the key capabilities that enable great performance is SMB Direct. SMB2 Direct (SMB over RDMA) is a new storage protocol in Windows Server 2012. It enables direct memory-to-memory data transfers between server and storage, with minimal CPU utilization, while using standard RDMA capable NICs. SMB2 Direct is supported on all three available RDMA technologies (iWARP, InfiniBand and RoCE.) Minimizing the CPU overhead for storage I/O means that servers can handle larger compute workloads. Microsoft also published Preliminary performance results . (Check out Jose Barreto’s blog for detail information) Windows Server 2012 Beta results – SMB Direct IOPs, bandwidth and latency These results come from a couple of servers that play the role of SMB Server and SMB client. The client in this case was a typical server-class computers using an Intel Westmere motherboard with two Intel Xeon L5630 processors (2 sockets, 4 cores each, 2.10 GHz). For networking, it was equipped with a single RDMA-capable Mellanox ConnectX-2 QDR InfiniBand card sitting on a PCIe Gen2 x8 slot. For these tests, the IOs went all the way to persistent storage (using 14 SSDs). We tested three IO sizes: 512KB, 8KB and 1KB, all reads.


Kinect for Windows 1.5 released with face tracking SDK and much more!
Wed, 30 May 2012 02:00:17 +0000
Ever since the Kinect for Windows sensor and SDK has been released, the team has been adding more cool  features to the product to enable more creative uses for this sound/motion detection device. With that, we’re very pleased to announce that Version 1.5 of the Kinect for Windows runtime and SDK is finally here!    The 1.5 SDK brings a number of exciting, new capabilities. Some highlights include: •Kinect Studio. A new tool which allows developers to record and play back Kinect data, dramatically shortening and simplifying the development lifecycle of a Kinect application. Now a developer writing a Kinect for Windows application can record clips of users in the application’s target environment and then replay those clips at a later time for testing and further development. •Face Tracking SDK. Which provides a real-time 3D mesh of facial features—tracking the head position, location of eyebrows, shape of the mouth, etc. •Seated Skeletal Tracking is now available. •New capabilities to enable avatar animation scenarios.    The Kinect Accelerator teams are building with Kinect for Windows, which makes me even more excited to see what the new groups of developers who have access are going to build!      Have fun developing on the Kinect!


Touchscreens not just for humans anymore
Tue, 29 May 2012 02:00:42 +0000
Much has been said about the touchscreen interface being a natural, almost instinctive way of interacting with personal computing devices. It’s so easy that even a kitten can use it - and they do. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltJzAndNyLo[/youtube] Because the internet was created for cat videos. From marketing pet food to scientific research, scientists and their programming counterparts have begun using tablets and touch-sensitive screens to entertain and educate ourselves about our furry friends. Here are some interesting ways technology is changing how we work with animals:   Animals using tablets  [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPynuuTMKTo[/youtube] From the tons of animal-related tablet or smartphone videos on Youtube, you can probably tell that our pets are drawn to touchscreen technologies. Maybe it’s the lights or the bright colours, but find me any cat that walks by and ignores an open laptop. Though, I’m not sure why anyone would let an elephant play with a Samsung Galaxy Note… [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBrmaE82uY4[/youtube]   Marketing pet food


Steve Clayton: How To Design Technology So It Becomes Natural
Mon, 28 May 2012 02:31:57 +0000
The advent of touch devices and motion sensing devices such as the Kinect has allowed us to start thinking more about how to design technology that is comes more natural to human interactions.  In this interesting video, Steve Clayton talks about the drive at Microsoft to embrace what he calls ’natural user interface’. Clayton, who says his job is to find out what amazing projects the tech firm is working on and share it with the world, takes us through a future-forward vision where gesture, sound and artificial-intuition creates a world that extends the possibilities of our creativity. Enjoy!


The Sacred of Orders of Geek
Fri, 25 May 2012 02:00:20 +0000
Geek is the new cool. And we love our geek friends. What type are you?  Source: BCO


Remembering the tech of old
Thu, 24 May 2012 02:00:29 +0000
No other industry moves as quickly as the technology sector. Inspired by the Remember Singapore blog and the I Remember SG website, I thought I’d write a quick piece about forgotten technologies. For anyone who grew up in the 80s and the 90s, any form of tech was an unfamiliar but throughly exciting experience, from watching the first 28.8k modem boot up with its incessant beeps and shrieks, to that awkward first social encounter with that kid at the playground asking for a Digimon battle.   Web 1.0 [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHW1ho8L7V8&feature=related[/youtube] Remember that monster of a modem you had to use to connect to this newfangled thing called the Internet? Basically, in order to check an email, you had to inform everyone in your house and the neighbours next door that you were going online. Flavours of email addresses ranged from Hotmail to Excite to Mail.com. In an era where Geocities and BBS ruled, you would be lucky to get any sort of graphics. They loaded line by line, often freezing midway if the Internet happened to be having a bad day. Have fun looking at how websites today would look Geocities-fied here.   Windows 95  Who can forget the melodic start-up sounds of Windows 95, as well as staring patiently at the colour-changing loading bar at the top of the loading screen. The OS of choice in every MOE computer lab, I remember doing really odd educational exercise programs in school as well as 10/10 PC Tutor at home. At least the latter sent you cool free postcards for finishing your assignments on time. Speaking of which… Taken from:  http://someawesomeness.wordpress.com/   Floppy disks Games used to be no more than 2.8MB, because they had to fit on one of these. Bigger programs were stored on multiple floppy disks labelled “Part 1” and so on in black tape. For those who took electone classes at Yamaha, the programming for your exam pieces also all fit on one floppy disk.   Tamagotchi and Digimon                                Taken from http://www.whotalking.com Yes, this is a shame-based admission, but I used to own one of these little clunkers. Banned in almost every primary and secondary school once they came out, these were the expensive toys every kid wanted. Cheap replicas with melting batteries were sold in every neighbourhood minimart, rapidly confiscated by exasperated teachers.   Public coin/card phones  For some reason there were always terribly long queues for these phones during recess, and I had no idea why. Once the value on your phonecard ran out, with a pair of scissors and some quick modifying you could create your very own discreet rubber band gun. Like so.      The evolving Nokia  Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nokia_3210_3.jpg   The Nokia 3210 was my very first phone, and I think it could probably still work if I found it. As heavy as a brick and twice as resilient, this phone survived drops like a champ and would probably outlast the human race. Its green-lit screen soon became the epitome of uncool once the Nokia 8250 and its brethren arrived with the dazzling blue screens that could double as a flashlight. Feel free to share your own memories of technology growing up in Singapore in the comments section below, or on any of the memory websites listed!


Experience life as a crew member on the spaceship with the Project Prometheus Training Center
Wed, 23 May 2012 02:00:37 +0000
   The search for our beginning could lead to our end.   The new movie Prometheus sees a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. In preparation for the upcoming film Prometheus (in theaters on June 8), Weyland Industries is accepting applicants to join the crew of the Project Prometheus spaceship. Today, the Internet Explorer team is proud to announce our partnership with Fox Studios to create the Project Prometheus Training Center — designed entirely in HTML5 — giving fans the chance to demonstrate they are capable of being a crew member on the Prometheus ship.  The Training Center hosts a series of online physical and cognitive assessments that will test your ability to be a functioning member of the Project Prometheus team, including testing emotional and intelligence quotients, spatial relations, agility, and even your ability to withstand 46 G’s.  The HTML5 experience leans heavily upon jQuery for the UI and controls, and the team even created a special 3D library for the Spatial Relations and Prefrontal Cortex Assessments to import features such as 3D models, lighting, hit testing and camera rotation. The code library will be available for download on our Internet Explorer channel on GitHub in the coming weeks. Do you have what it takes to keep your head at 46 G’s? Good luck! Check out the center here. Read more about the building of the HTML5 site on the IE Blog or check out the Promethus Youtube Channel.


Running Windows Server 2012/Windows 8 on Win Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V
Tue, 22 May 2012 10:06:19 +0000
Let’s say you have Windows Server 2008 R2 and you are ready to run Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8 as VMs to try it out. I know some of you still prefer to run Windows Server 2008 R2 in your lab. Some of you may have to stay on Windows Server 2008 R2 because it is your testing or staging environment in your company. Previously you may experience one or more of the following issues while trying Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8 in Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V


An Inside Peek into the Windows 8 App Excellence Lab
Tue, 22 May 2012 08:02:40 +0000
 Guess what’s brewing in our labs? It’s the start of the Windows 8 App Excellence Labs! As a part of our Windows 8 Developer Camps, Microsoft Singapore has been offering a free 2 hour App Excellence Lab to App developers. What is the Application Excellence Lab? The App Excellence Lab is when our friendly and lovely Microsoft engineers go through your Windows 8 app together with you and help you with issues or problems that you might have. We’ll let  you know what is good, what can be better and how to go about doing it!   The best part? After each successful App Excellence Review, conducted remotely, each developer receives a free token to the Windows Store.    Here’s an inside peek on what goes on inside, our friendly Microsoft engineer and Developer Evangelists helping Jonathan (a student from Singapore Poly with his Win 8 app) and giving him advice. And remember, the Release Preview is now due the first week of June 2012. There are limited timeslots available in which you can get your App reviewed. Get in early, or you will miss out!


#HTML5Metro - A Fully Immersive Experience
Tue, 22 May 2012 02:00:53 +0000
 Held at the NTUC Auditorium on 10 May 2012, this developers’ camp introduced Singaporean developers and IT professionals to the power of HTML5, elaborating on how the markup language will feature prominently in creating software for the Windows 8 platform. A fully immersive experience  Senior Technical Evangelist Giorgio Sardo and Architect Advisor Hammad Rajjoub opened the event, talking about the multiple touch capabilities of the Metro UI and demonstrating the fluidity of the tiled start menu. With its graphic-intensive approach, full-screen interfaces and standardisation of gestures across applications, the user experience is expected to be intuitive and effective. Rajjoub mentioned that Windows 8 works across a range of diverse platforms, despite the differences between specs such as mobile screens and large-screen monitors. He demonstrated how the search function is integrated across apps as well as web, with a one-stop “live updating” solution for the user. Placing emphasis on the new “snap” function, Rajjoub showed how switching from one screen to another would enable easy multitasking while running several apps at the same time. He also noted that coding processes for Windows 8 will feel familiar to those accustomed to C# and Visual Basic. Be it HTML, Javascript, C# or Visual Basic, all could be used to create Metro-style apps.  Smooth gaming processes   Sardo shared his experience with gaming on Windows 8, showing the camp participants an exclusive sneak preview of Resident Evil that smoothly rendered with little noticeable lag on his laptop. XBox games are “easily ported to Metro”, he said, opening up the platform to a whole new market of gamers.  Going into his work on the award-winning game Cut The Rope, Sardo said that it was originally written in Objective C. As such, rewriting each line of code into Javascript in order to keep the user experience similar was a bit of a challenge, he shared. Sardo showed how he animated sprites by scrolling and looping images, explaining that this was a common graphics engine for most games in the industry. Animating the ropes was the biggest challenge, he went on, given that over 20,000 triangles and shadows that made up the ropes needed to be coded individually to run smoothly. Originally, Zepto Labs wanted to kill the projects as the ropes took too long to load, but ironically after a few tweaks, the game was running “too quickly” on HTML5! The game had to be slowed in order to deliver a consistent experience across platforms. Although existing code can be ported over quickly to Windows 8, Sardo warned that this demonstrated the power of HTML5, but shouldn’t actually be put into practice. Full-screen immersion is important for applications, often more so than websites.  Fully integrated support for developers Digital Marketer Tan Chun Siong closed the event with his presentation on some tips and tricks to engage the user. Designing a good application, he said, must not be simply focused on making it “faster”, but a more holistic approach must be used in order to study how users actually utilise the application.    With the standardisation of Windows Library Javascript tools, the open and customisable features shown to developers at the event is predicted to be most useful to applications that are information-heavy, such as recipe books or reference materials. This is due to the fact that there are already attractive templates available for developers to fill with their individual content. Be sure to follow our speakers on Twitter for the latest updates on Windows 8!   Giorgio Sardo: @gisardo Hammad Rajjoub: @HammadRajjoub Bruce Wang: @linanw Tan Chun Siong: @tanchunsiong


Videos of Speaker Sessions from #MSCampfire
Mon, 21 May 2012 01:00:16 +0000
We know you’ve been waiting for this for some time now.. and we’re happy to announce that the videos from Campfire are finally here. If you missed out on the very awesome speaker sessions we had at #MSCampfire, fret not. You can now view all the sessions online. We’d love to hear your feedback and thoughts. Drop us a comment here or on Facebook if you have anything you’d like to say! Remember, you can also find the speaker slides here.


Learn More about Microsoft Codename "Trust Services"
Thu, 17 May 2012 05:52:52 +0000
Protect your data in the Cloud
Trust and Security have been hot topics for the public cloud since its inception. Corporate IT departments and CIOs have repeatedly expressed concerns over the loss of control associated with moving various levels of sensitive data to a public cloud. At the same time, the overall benefits of a public cloud are tremendous and continue to gain momentum. This means that many organizations have a pressing need tomigrate to public cloud infrastructure in spite of ongoing concerns about security. Encryption is one of the fundamental required tools for protecting data in the cloud. However, encrypting the data in the cloud, and then storing the encryption keys in the cloud in order to be able to access the data, provides only a very minor improvement over simply storing the data in the cloud in the first place. Trust Services provides a unique combination of end-to-end application level encryption and power of the cloud to roam encryption keys in a totally secure way. It enables data driven applications to work with sensitive data, securely stored in different cloud-based storages while continuing to maintain control over access to this data. 


@Home with Windows Azure Competition - Singapore
Thu, 10 May 2012 06:45:50 +0000
  We are proud to announce the @Home with Windows Azure competition here in Singapore! Join us in this effort to give back to a very deserving cause, and get a solid understanding of the Windows Azure platform in the process. You will deploy an application to Windows Azure that directly contributes to Stanford University’s Folding@home effort, a distributed computing project that carries out simulations of protein folding. By simply running a piece of software, you can help scientists learn more about diseases like Alzheimer’s, ALS, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s disease and many cancers through banding together to make one of the largest supercomputers in the world. This distributed computing project was created by Stanford University researchers to help scientists unravel the mysteries of protein folding in hopes of helping cure diseases. Started by the US East Region DPE team, The @Home with Windows Azure project allows you to contribute to it by using your MSDN subscription or by using a free 3-Month Trial subscription to harness the power of Microsoft’s cloud computing platform. Prizes & Dates Your first prize will be the good feeling for contributing to a good cause! Also, globally, for every deployment of the @home with Windows Azure application Microsoft will donate $10 to Stanford University’s effort (up to $5,000 maximum). You also have the chance to win one of the following great prizes that will be randomly drawn between Singapore participants that enter before 11:59pm on 15 June 2012 and leave their solution deployed until at least 11:59am on 25 June 2012:


How to Hack Metro Design
Wed, 09 May 2012 07:18:51 +0000
We’ve been hearing a lot of talk about Metro, which is code name for a design language for Windows 8, Windows Phone 7, X Box and other Microsoft software. What’s Metro about anyway?  Metro draws from classic Swiss design, with its emphasis on simplicity, typography leading navigation and way-finding graphics found in transportation hubs. The bold, clear lettering and iconography are key to helping commuters find their way to subways and air travelers navigate to their boarding gates. The key element in this design language  is to allow users to focus more on the content that is delivered, rather than the various frames that we are used to.    With its’ straight lines and rectangular tiles, it might appear that Metro design is easy to implement for apps, but the reality is that Metro was made for motion and content. The animations, content make a big difference when it comes to attracting attention to your applications. Simply put, the content and images draw you to the application itself, while the animations help you bring it alive.     How do you go about designing an awesome Metro App? Here is a list of tips and resources you can refer to. 1. Get the tools to prototype. MSDN has a good repository of templates, icons and styles that you may refer to. These include: 


Consumerization of IT within Microsoft
Mon, 07 May 2012 06:31:07 +0000
Consumerization of IT (CoIT) is a reality to many organizations today. Employees more and more want to use their personal electronic devices to do their jobs, and utilize the same technologies and applications at work that they use at home. This blending of consumer and enterprise technologies is the Consumerization of IT, and it boosts employee productivity and satisfaction. However, it can make it difficult for IT departments to ensure an enterprise’s data security and integrity. Many people think CoIT is only about “Devices Management”. To have a successful CoIT strategy, we also need to think about People, Security and Management, , and Productivity**.** Microsoft IT built the support for CoIT based on following four pillar.    • Windows PCs and other devices: Classify what are enterprise-standard, consumer-standard, and nonstandard devices, and then determine the various support models for each. Look at your support model, think about how difference devices will be supported and what level of support each kind of devices gets. • Security and management: Determine how to manage and control these devices, and their users’ access to intellectual property, and then ensure data’s integrity and security once users place it on these devices. Different people may handle different information, HR and Finance Department typically handle more sensitive data and information. Classify different data and information then build access and control polices around it. For example, highly business impact (Like HR and Finance records) data and information should be only accessed from managed devices. Low business impact data and information may be accessed through unmanaged devices to enable flexibility. • Productivity: Determine which applications and technologies to support on employees’ devices to ensure that they continue to be satisfied and productive. •Unified application development: Establish best practices for line-of-business (LOB) application development, and ensure a secure development lifecycle and marketplace for these applications Below table (Click to enlarge) illustrate how Microsoft IT support Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) for both Windows and Non-Windows Devices. It also shows what kind of access each device can get.  Here is list of technologies that involved to build this approach.


Kinect in NUS HCI Class
Mon, 07 May 2012 01:36:26 +0000
A few weeks ago, I was very lucky to have been invited by the NUS School of Computing to provide feedback to students for their project in Module CS4202. This module is focused on Human Computer Interaction and the teams were assigned to use the Kinect system for their projects. All of the teams used the Kinect to some extent. Of course some utilized it better than others and it really shows through the projects. It was interesting to see how the teams approached the problems given to them and how they thought of incorporating the Kinect. It reminded me of a video released by Microsoft sometime back after it noticed how people are innovating on the Kinect. A cheap, yet powerful sensor that has infinite uses only limited by one’s imagination. [youtube]http://youtu.be/T_QLguHvACs[/youtube] Prof. Sheng from NUS gave me the link to their blog and it shows all the projects that was presented. You can check it out here A couple of projects that stood out for me were Human Kinect Exhibit [youtube]http://youtu.be/mDweANoZAZk[/youtube] The Human Kinect Exhibit focused on providing a fun learning environment for children to learn about the human anatomy. The game they created was fun and engaging and provided a learning environment for children to learn some information about bones. On first glance the project seems like a simple game but what really fascinated me was the reaction and interaction of the audience once they have set the application up at the Science Museum. The feedback and the reaction of the users was very valuable for the team as this proves that their game is enjoyable and educational. For me, nothing beats getting your product out and getting people to try it out. ChopChopMirror [youtube]http://youtu.be/1kllEzn9Wgk[/youtube] ChopChop Mirror is a great concept. They treated the Kinect as an interface for your digital assistant. I think this will be a common feature in our bathroom mirrors as we enable more screens with touch and intelligence. The concept itself is in it’s infancy but I can really see intelligent houses in the near future once interfaces and components become cheaper. I liked the project because of their forward thinking and how they designed the interface. Aside from that, it also reminds me of one video from Microsoft envisioning the future. Microsoft releases envisioning videos every year, giving us a glimpse of what the future has for us trough the eyes of the largest software company in the world. This year’s envisioning video has something similar to ChopChop Mirror in some shape or form. [youtube]http://youtu.be/a6cNdhOKwi0[/youtube] I’m really grateful to have been invited by Prof. Sheng to his class. I saw some great projects and realized how much potential a student has given the right technology. Looking forward to their future projects!


All Aboard: the Metro Design and what it means to you – Shane Morris
Thu, 03 May 2012 11:11:00 +0000
We’ve been hearing a lot of talk around Metro, which is at the center of the new Windows 8 experience. Shane Morris, ex-Microsoft User Experience Design Evangelist and currently Director at Automatic Studio, was recently in town and shared lots of great tips about how to navigate Metro design.  Code named ‘Metro’; this design theme is inspired by one of the most common sights we see in our daily lives – the Metro (or the MRT in our case!) If you’ve noticed, the signs, guidelines at our Metro/MRT stations have a clean, clear, distinctive design theme. The straight lines, squares and circles make it easy to distinguish and identify the stations. This is the key objective of the new Metro User Experience with Windows 8 as well. Shane shared that Metro is quintessentially a design that immerses users in the content. Instead of trying to re-create real life experiences on your tablet, it makes use of clean, modern and motion design to bring apps to life. This design also makes it easy to distinguish apps from one another – and if you as a developer make the effort to, you can easily bring your app to life with the ‘live tiles’ and attract users back to your application. Here are Shane’s slides:


Resources from #MSCampfire and Highlights
Thu, 03 May 2012 10:50:58 +0000
#MSCampfire was an amazing opportunity for us to gather developers, IT professionals, students and start-ups together.  Over the course of 3 days we saw 600 attendees come together to discuss and share about the latest in web and mobile technology, had the brightest student minds pit their heads together in the Semis and Final of Imagine Cup SG to tackle some of the toughest real-world problems and saw the grit and passion from start-ups in Singapore from the Singapore Satellite of Echelon by our partner E27. All these wouldn’t have been possible without your support. Thank you so much for attending #MSCampfire and we hope to continually see you for the rest of our events.  For those of you who missed #MSCampfire, fret not! Our next event happening on 10 May is HTML 5 on Metro. During this session, we’ll speak specifically about how HTML5 is changing the way applications are designed and how best to use it to create Metro-styled apps! Register now at bit.ly/html5onmetro   Here are the slides from each session and the coverage on it.  10:30 – 11:30 Keynote – Rob Miles (Coverage by E27) 16:30-17:30 The Kinect Effect: Infinite Possibilities – Rob Miles Slides and (mostly working) code from the presentations - here C# Yellow Book, Windows Phone Blue book and other free stuff - here .NET Micro Framework embedded development - here Gadgeteer embedded development -  here Three Thing Game student madness – here Windows Phone development - here Dreamspark, free software for students - here Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio – here Kinect For Windows SDK – here   11:30 – 12:30 Prototype, Prototype, Prototype – Shane Morris (Coverage by E27)


Updates on "Win Zenbook with System Center 2012"
Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:25:03 +0000
We got a piece of good news and a piece of  bad news to update on the contest! Let’s start with the bad news first. We have our winners for all Starbucks cards and 4gb thumbdrives but we won’t be announcing it here. GOOD NEWS is…. we are extending this contest till 11 May 2012! So start downloading System Center 2012 if you havent to stand a chance to win a Zenbook!  details are here » with so many good reviews on UX31 (http://www.engadget.com/, http://www.pcmag.com, http://www.laptopmag.com) I’m sure you don’t want to miss this! Hint: Remember to sign up for MVA to triple your chances of winning!   We also like to take this opportunity to invite you to get your hands on IT at Private Cloud Immersion! Learn how Microsoft is delivering cloud solutions now and in the future. For more click here »


SR-IOV Support in Windows Server 2012
Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:19:58 +0000
Past couple of weeks, I shared at our community meetup and also partner briefings about some new fantastic features about Windows Server 2012 (formerly known as Windows Server “8”). SR-IOV is one of them. SR-IOV stands for Single-Root Input/Output (I/O) Virtualization. It’s is a standard defined by the PCI Special Interest Group. If you work for one of the member companies who have access, and are after some light bedtime reading, the specs are available on their website. To learn more, I want to point you to this outstanding 8 part blog series written by John Howard, a senior program manager on the Hyper-V team at Microsoft Here are the posts for you reading pleasure: Part 1: http://blogs.technet.com/b/jhoward/archive/2012/03/12/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-sr-iov-in-hyper-v-part-1.aspx Part 1 discusses emulated versus software devices, the pros and cons and constraints of each and why Microsoft is investing in SR-IOV. —————————————————————————————————– Part 2: http://blogs.technet.com/b/jhoward/archive/2012/03/13/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-sr-iov-in-hyper-v-part-2.aspx Part 2 discusses the SR-IOV standard, physical functions (PFs) virtual functions (VFs) and the hardware requirements to make SR-IOV even possible. —————————————————————————————————– Part 3: http://blogs.technet.com/b/jhoward/archive/2012/03/14/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-sr-iov-in-hyper-v-part-3.aspx Part 3 discusses device drivers and how they function in an SR-IOV environment as well as screenshots of an SR-IOV NIC within a Hyper-V VM. —————————————————————————————————– Part 4: http://blogs.technet.com/b/jhoward/archive/2012/03/15/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-sr-iov-in-hyper-v-part-4.aspx Part 4 discusses some of the low level necessary firmware and motherboard changes to make SR-IOV function and provides a pointer to an interesting presentation given 4 years ago at WinHEC 2008 by Jake Oshins that provides further insight into SR-IOV. —————————————————————————————————– Part 5: http://blogs.technet.com/b/jhoward/archive/2012/03/16/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-sr-iov-in-hyper-v-part-5.aspx Part 5 explains the IO path with SR-IOV enabled, covers SR-IOV configuration via the UI and a deeper dive into PowerShell. —————————————————————————————————– Part 6: http://blogs.technet.com/b/jhoward/archive/2012/03/19/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-sr-iov-in-hyper-v-part-6.aspx Part 6 discusses SR-IOV and Live Migration in detail. It covers the engineering challenge of making SR-IOV work with Live Migration (not trivial folks) and even includes a video that demonstrates a virtual machine with an SR-IOV NIC under load being Live Migrated. There’s even a link to a WinHEC 2006 presentation —————————————————————————————————– Part 7: http://blogs.technet.com/b/jhoward/archive/2012/03/20/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-sr-iov-in-hyper-v-part-7.aspx Part 7 discusses SR-IOV and how it works with the new inbox Windows Server 2012 NIC Teaming. Yes folks, you can team SR-IOV NICs in the guest. —————————————————————————————————– Part 8: http://blogs.technet.com/b/jhoward/archive/2012/03/21/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-sr-iov-in-hyper-v-part-8.aspx Part 8 discusses debugging SR-IOV and includes examples in PowerShell and covers troubleshooting through the Event Viewer.


Getting the most bang out of your bytes
Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:05:28 +0000
The recent announcements of Microsoft SkyDrive and Google Drive have thrown the spotlight on some of the most exciting changes in the global fight for cloud hosting services. As one of the most wired countries in the world, there is no better time to get onboard. Because like any true Singaporean, we all want the best value for our money. Even if it’s free.   Here’s a quick summary of five cloud services available in Singapore.   Microsoft SkyDrive  Microsoft’s recently re-introduced their cloud hosting service SkyDrive, available across PCs and the Mac platform. Tips on how to install it here. (Psst. Quickly opt in now to re-upgrade your account to a 25GB storage for a limited period of time. Steps are here.) The SkyDrive desktop application’s compatibility with Mac extends only so far as Lion, so if you’re on an older Mac you’ll have to access SkyDrive through your browser. Points to SkyDrive must be awarded for its iOS app - photos taken on an iPhone were quickly uploaded and synced to my SkyDrive via an easy multiple selection screen. Around 30 photos took mere minutes to upload in their original uncompressed formats.   Google Drive  Image from https://drive.google.com/start   Although Google very recently made headlines for Drive (and we do mean recently - this article was rewritten because of it), it unfortunately doesn’t seem to be available in Singapore as of yet. Anyone have any luck finding anything other than a “Google Drive is coming.” page? Originally, Google didn’t have a compiled cloud service per se. Sure, emailing files to your own email account might have done the trick, but your content was probably evenly spread among Gmail, Google Docs, Picasa, Google Calendar and so on. Some may argue that separate content requires separate services, but Drive, like the One Ring to Rule Them All, will probably be the consolidating platform that unites them. Watch this space.   Apple iCloud  Image from http://www.apple.com/icloud/what-is.html  I would consider iCloud to be more of a behind-the-scenes sort of restore tool. You hardly realise it’s there until you need to use it. It backs up your mail, contacts, calendar and is needed to use native applications such as Find My iPhone. Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever used it much. Because Singapore doesn’t have access to the content on the Apple Online Store (music, movies and whatnot), there is no local option to backup such content on the cloud.   Amazon Cloud Drive  Image from https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/learnmore This one’s a bit of a mystery since the online Amazon store is also not available in Singapore. A bit of an iCloud problem, if you could put it that way - why buy/use the service if you’re denied access to its repository of impressive content?   I managed to log in with my Amazon account, but was slightly disappointed by its lack of features. Like iCloud, this service is closely tied in to the company’sproducts, so I would suggest giving this 5GB a miss unless you own a Kindle.   Dropbox  Image from http://www.dropbox.com The only service that isn’t tied in with a larger parent tech company, Dropbox has been around for a while and its strength lies in seamless syncing across various operating systems. There’s even a Public Folder option where you can generate a link to your uploaded files for public downloads. I’ve lost count of the times when I wanted to share a file quickly, then simply dragged and dropped and gotten an URL to copy and paste in a pinch.   The Good News My advice? Why choose when you can literally have it all? Use SkyDrive for uploading photographs from your phone on the go, Dropbox for file-sharing with friends, Google for organising and editing group projects and Amazon Cloud Drive for… well, when you run out of free online storage space, I guess.   Remember to upgrade your Skydrive to 25GB for a limited time too! 


Access your personal cloud for Windows with SkyDrive anywhere, anytime
Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:53:47 +0000
One of the things that can really bug a user is when you don’t have access to your data. Over the last year we’ve been hard at work building SkyDrive alongside Windows 8, setting out a unique approach to designing personal cloud storage for billions of people by bringing together the best aspects of file, app, and device clouds. [caption id=“attachment_8881” align=“alignnone” width=“652” caption=“Special folder stays in sync with your SkyDrive”][/caption] Today, we’re excited to take another big step towards our vision by making SkyDrive far more powerful. There are new storage options, apps that connect your devices to SkyDrive, and a more powerful device cloud that lets you “fetch” any file from a Windows PC. Starting today, we are now offering:


Introducing the Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter BETA (MVMC)
Mon, 23 Apr 2012 05:35:40 +0000
MMS2012 at Vegas last week was awesome. If you followed the keynotes, both keynotes were very good. You can watch Keynote and Breakout sessions at http://www.mms-2012.com/digitalmms. Same excitments are shared by medias too. I saw some good articles on some popular sites. eweek: Windows Server 8 is Now Officially Windows Server 2012 Meanwhile, at MMS, Microsoft’s Anderson said IT organizations that use System Center 2012 and Windows Server with Hyper-V for cloud computing are helping their companies move faster, save money and compete better. For example, EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services, a luxury car service headquartered in New Jersey, has used a Microsoft private cloud to reduce data center costs by 50 percent, amid 30 percent company growth during the past 18 months. With more than 1,000 employees, EmpireCLS relies on the Microsoft private cloud to deliver a reliable reservation system to customers in more than 700 cities around the world. Using System Center 2012, EmpireCLS also used its cloud environment to create a new business with its BeTransported software as a service (SaaS) offering. The application is now in use broadly within the car service industry. Network world: Your move, VMware:Windows Server ‘8’ Becomes Windows Server 2012 BetaNews: Meet Windows Server 2012 Windows IT Pro: MMS 2012: The Evolution of Data Center Computing The Register: Microsoft goes global with System Center 2012 at MMC Windows IT Pro: MMS 2012: System Center 2012 Released, Windows Server ‘8’ Now Windows Server 2012 Network World: Hyper-V: Hyper Adoption TechTarget: Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 released – and new Windows Intune is on the way ZDNet: Windows Server 8 officially dubbed Windows Server 2012 Windows IT Pro: It’s Official: Windows Server 2012


Pushing the boundaries of HTML5 with ForestFly
Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:31:36 +0000
Check out this awesome project by our Australian DPE team! From their blog:  We decided to push the boundaries for HTML5’s canvas tag in this beautiful photo gallery visualiser. So we at La La Ninja decided to make ForestFly – http://forestfly.lalaninja.com.au by Tom Knight from Xamling ForestFly was designed to provide a simple, yet visually appealing method of viewing facebook photo albums. With limited knowledge of Canvas, HTML5 Video and Audio elements, our designer and I managed to complete the project in less than 5 days thanks to broad community knowledge and relative ease of use.


Experience HTML5 on Metro - 10 May
Fri, 20 Apr 2012 07:12:49 +0000

Windows 8 Developer Camp - HTML5 on Metro will be the biggest technical event Microsoft Singapore is organizing on Windows 8. HTML5 is here, and with it, web applications take on power, ease, scalability, and responsiveness like never before. HTML5 on Metro lets developers learn how to use the latest cutting-edge HTML5 web technology to build  Windows 8 applications with unparalleled functionality, speed, and responsiveness. Featuring Giorgio Sardo, Senior Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation Giorgio is a popular speaker worldwide and in the last 5 years he has presented at many conferences about HTML5, the Web and Mobile Platform. He is the mind behind many beautiful HTML5 applications and games at beautyoftheweb.com and Cut the Rope for IE. AGENDA 10 AM   Behind the Scenes of Cut The Rope 11 AM    Getting started with Window 8 Metro Apps 12 PM    Lunch 1 PM      Metro for HTML/JS Developers 2 PM      Responsive App Design 3 PM      Break 4 PM      Client + Cloud integration with Azure


Windows 8 Hands-on Lab and Application Consultation Session
Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:44:48 +0000
 Sign up for our workshops after submitting your app ideas to win8sg@microsoft.com Windows 8 changes everything. It is the single most important opportunity for developers right now. That’s why we’re going to get technical in these sessions. Come join us in one of these Windows 8 hands-on sessions that will allow you to the opportunity to go through the app development process with our Windows 8 experts. Topics to be covered, with focus on html and Javascript:


Get your hands on IT at Private Cloud Immersion!
Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:39:01 +0000
 
Have you considered how you will extend your organization to the private or public cloud? Do you have a plan for implementing your own cloud infrastructure? Are you aware of everything you can do now?
 We’d like to invite you and your technical staff to join us at this interactive engagement to:

Learn how Microsoft is delivering cloud solutions now and in the future.
Get a deep understanding of what the Microsoft Private Cloud is – and how you can take advantage of it today.
Use the latest private cloud technologies from Microsoft, including Windows Server® and the new Microsoft System Center®.

TOPICS


Watch MMS2012 Keynote tonight, discuss with APAC peers and get rewarded
Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:03:09 +0000
Microsoft Management Submit 2012 is happening right now at Vegas. Brad Anderson, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Management and Security Division delivered a fantastic keynote last night. The second day keynote will be happening tonight at 11:15PM - 12:45PM Singapore local time. You could watch it live (or on-demand) at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/new.aspx. After watching, I’m sure you will have questions that you would like to bounce off to someone. You can do that by joining the conversation that’s happening concurrently at Facebook MMS APAC Chat Wall. MVPs, community leaders and industry peers from Asia Pacific will be there to answer all your questions.  Here are what people are talking about now! Get into the conversation!   


Move Your Career to the Cloud with the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert certification
Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:52:50 +0000
Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) is a reinvented certification for today’s technology solutions
Microsoft has reinvented its certification program by building a broader and deeper set of technology solutions skills validation, starting with cloud-enabled solution skills. As one of the most recognized and respected certification programs, Microsoft is charting the path for IT Professionals and Developers to keep their skills relevant as new technology solutions are released.
Reinvented, Not Just Renamed
Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) emphasizes solutions
Microsoft has reinvented its certifications to validate the skill sets needed to develop, deploy, and maintain Microsoft technology solutions. These certifications recognize IT Pros and Developers who have skill sets that run both broad and deep. Certifications are available at three skill levels:


Turning Virtualization to Private Cloud - How Orchestrator can help
Sun, 15 Apr 2012 08:57:49 +0000
What is Cloud? Okay, ‘Cloud’ is a over-used word these days in IT. Everyone is talking about Cloud, every IT vendor is talking about Cloud. So What is Cloud? Can you describe it? If you cannot, don’t worry you are not the only one. I always refer to the defination by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): “Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models**:** _On-demand self-servic_e, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity and measured service.” For the full defination, click HERE to visit the NIST website. The key word here is “Cloud Computing is a model” A model that delivers


Top Benefits of HTML5 in Games from Juha from Non-Stop Games
Thu, 12 Apr 2012 23:44:36 +0000
HTML 5 is going to be the next big thing.  It’s promise for openness and interactivity on both web and mobile is definitely one of the key attractions for developers. Juha from Non-Stop Games shares about his experience building HTML5 games at #MSCampfire. His company built Dollar Isle, which is a web game built on HTML5 - users set out to building an island filled sky scrapers, hotels and casinos that attract visitors around the virtual world. Juha opens by setting the stage with the definition of HTML5 in his case, which is HTML +JavaScript + CSS3.


Check out the Nokia Booth at #MSCampfire and win great prizes!
Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:27:50 +0000
We’ve got tonnes of great prizes waiting for you at #MSCampfire! Inside our UFO catcher are carebears tagged with #MSCampfire tags. Stand to win great prizes such as Lumia phones (sponsored by Nokia), IE T-shirts, Starbucks cards and many others! All you need to do is to scan your RFID Tags at the catchers and start playing!        Most Amazing Booth Shot Contest! Strike a pose with our booth babes! The top 3 most-“Liked” photos uploaded by our Nokia booth babes to the Nokia Developers page wins a *white* Nokia Lumia 800, and 2 Nokia Lumia 710’s! * Visit and Like us at http://www.facebook.com/nokiadevs for more details on developer trainings and other developer contests. *The Most Amazing Booth Shot Contest ends 11.59pm 4/14 (Sat). Tag yourself in Facebook or leave namecard by the booth to verify winner. Email chris.ismael@nokia.com if you’re a developer!take a picture with the lovely ladies at the Nokia booth, you stand to win prizes Good luck!


#MSCampfire Highlights - Get the latest updates
Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:57:13 +0000
 Welcome to #MSCampfire ! We’re so excited to have you join us on for this action-packed event today! Remember to check back here for more photos, details and live coverage of the event as we reveal more exciting details along the way. Tweet us at @gospiffy for your feedback and remember to include the hashtag #MSCampfire, we’d love to find out what you think and how the event is for you :) Enjoy! Here’s a summary of what’s happening at #MSCampfire on Day One and Two. You can click on the links to get the latest updates on each session. At the end we will also be posting the slides from each session here! Day One: // THE WAREHOUSE 10:00 - 10:30 Opening - Ziriad Saibi 10:30 - 11:30 Keynote - Rob Miles (Coverage by E27) 11:30 - 12:30 Prototype, Prototype, Prototype - Shane Morris (Coverage by E27) 12:30 Lunch  13:30-14:30 10 Key HTML 5 Features you must know - Juha Paananen     14:30-15:30 Windows 8 Development - Hammad Rajjoub and Bruce Wang 15:30-16:30 The Metro Design Language; what it means to you - Shane Morris  16:30-17:30 The Kinect Effect: Infinite Possibilities - Rob Miles // CACHE & THE GRID 9:00-17:00 Imagine Cup Semifinals Day Two // THE GRID 10:00-12:30 Imagine Cup 2012 Finals // THE WAREHOUSE    10:00-11:00 Gamification - Natalie from Humming Bird Interactive  Sanjay from Replaid talking about good mobile design practices 11:00-12:00 Mobile Web Design 13:00-17:00 Echelon Singapore Satellite by E27   Enjoy the day at #MSCampfire and come say hi to us! Cheers, The Microsoft Singapore DPE team


Discover the future of Kinect with Rob Miles at Campfire
Wed, 11 Apr 2012 00:43:53 +0000
  When Microsoft launched Kinect for Xbox 360 a year and a half ago, our initial focus was controller-free games and entertainment. Once only the stuff of science fiction, Kinect became a phenomenon across the globe. Within the first 60 days, Kinect sold more than 8 million sensors, setting the Guinness Book World Record as the fastest-selling consumer electronics device. It extended the realm of what’s possible for a traditional gaming console and changed the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, bringing new categories of consumers to Xbox 360. What’s more important is the enthusiasm from the community to create exciting and creative applications in the areas of healthcare, rehab, education and so much more with the Kinect other than in the gaming industry.    That’s why we’re excited to have Rob Miles talk to us about the Kinect and the inifinite possibilities it brings for us. Rob is a lecturer in Computer Science at the University of Hull in Great Britain where he teaches C# programming, Software Engineering and Embedded Development. He is also a Windows Phone MVP and has presented at many Microsoft conferences including TechED and Mix as well as delivering Windows Phone Jumpstart content to many thousands of budding Windows Phone developers. He is the author of a number of books on XNA game development and a text on the .NET Micro Framework and is just finishing off a book about development using the Kinect sensor. He has been fascinated by computers since the days of punched cards when he wrote his first programs, although nowadays he prefers Visual Studio 2010. He is a keen blogger at www.robmiles.com and can be found on Twitter as RobMiles. See you on Friday everyone! Register HERE.


Party Rockin' On Dance Central at Plaza Singapura!
Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:30:40 +0000

DCC Finalists bringing the house down with The Last Dance after all winners were crowned on 8th April
It was an explosive weekend at Plaza Singapura as the inaugural Dance Central Championships came to its grand finale and Kinect Star Wars was officially launched! From 3rd to 8th April, at least 100,000 mall visitors came to experience the magic Kinect for Xbox 360 like never before.


Catch Shane Morris - one of Australia's most respected UX designers at Campfire
Thu, 05 Apr 2012 03:56:21 +0000
   User Experience Design is quickly becoming an interesting component in the web and mobile space. Whether you’re building an app for your phone or for your website, you need to focus on the user experience to differentiate your product and company. As a developer, it’s crucial to know what to look out for when it comes to designing interactions for your users. We’re glad to have Shane Morris, one of Australia’s most respected user experience professionals join us at Campfire. Shane is currently Director at Automatic Studio. Through consulting, mentoring and training he has helped organisations create compelling digital experiences since 1991. In that time he has worked on desktop applications, internet applications, mobile user interfaces, physical devices and web sites. Shane has taught user experience topics around the world and is a key contributor to “101 Things I Learned in Interaction Design School” at ixd101.com. Hear him speak on day one about Prototyping and the Metro Design Language. Register now at campfire.weshipcode.com !


Watch tertiary students pitch their hearts out at the Semis and Finals of Imagine Cup 2012: Singapore
Wed, 04 Apr 2012 17:08:20 +0000
   Happening from 13– 14 Apr at *SCAPE, Imagine Cup 2012 : Singapore Finals will be open and free for public viewing this year. The annual Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition. Talented students from the various institutions of higher learning will compete and pitch their hearts out in this national software design competition to represent Singapore in the Imagine Cup Worldwide Finals held in Sydney, Australia. Students all over the world are to use their imagination and passion to create a technology solution that addresses the Imagine Cup 2012 theme: Imagine a world where technology solves the world’s toughest problems. In ten years, the Imagine Cup has grown to be a global competition focused on finding solutions to real-world problems. Since 2003, over 1.4 million students have participated in the Imagine Cup with 358,000 students representing 183 countries and regions registering for the Imagine Cup 2011 competition. The Imagine Cup 2012 competition is a platform for students to:


M-Power: Back By Popular Demand and Happening On April 19th & 20th
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:34:57 +0000
M- Power is back again! For those who missed the last training we had, here’s your chance to get your hands-on experience with Mango development! Register now, slots are limited. More details: 


Explore System Center 2012 and get rewarded! (updated on 27 April 2012)
Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:28:47 +0000






Win Zenbook with System Center 2012!
Download your free evaluation of Microsoft System Center 2012, and get a chance to win an ASUS Zenbook UX31. Sure win! First 50 participants will receive a S$10 Starbucks card, and the next 50 participants will receive a 4GB USB thumbdrive.


Download System Center 2012 evaluation

 
Then send your screenshot of the download progress to msmarketing@swap.com.sg


Ready for MMS 2012 Keynotes and More Technical Documentation Available Now
Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:28:26 +0000
 Well, we are near to MMS 2012 which is happening 17 April in Las Vegas. If you are late sleeper like me, you can watch the two Keynotes on 18 April and 19 April 12:00AM Singapore time. Click here to save the date A new bunch of technical documentation downloads for System Center 2012 is also released: •Technical Documentation Download for System Center 2012 – Operations Manager  •Technical Documentation Download for System Center 2012 – Virtual Machine Manager •System Center 2012 Configuration Manager  •Technical Documentation Download for System Center 2012 – Orchestrator  •Technical Documentation Download for System Center 2012 – Service Manager •Technical Documentation Download for System Center 2012 – Unified Installer These are great resources for System Center 2012. If you have not tried System Center 2012, do it now through one Single download today!


Resources from Build for Windows 8
Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:57:42 +0000
Thank you for joining us for the Build for Windows 8 Event last Friday! We had fun with 200 fellow developers who came together to learn about the Windows 8 platform.  Here are the slides for your reference. Do let us know if you have any questions and feel free to get in touch with us by leaving a comment, or tweet us @gospiffy for more information. Have fun developing for Windows 8!   The Windows 8 Platform   Designing Metro Apps


Campfire - Two days of cutting edge learning and inspiration
Thu, 29 Mar 2012 22:38:12 +0000

Campfire proudly presents two days of cutting edge learning and inspiration from April 13 - 14, 2012. Join us for an action-packed conference designed especially for developers, designers, UX experts and entrepreneurs in the web technology space.
We’re flying in great speakers from across the globe specially to talk to you about trending topics like HTML5, The Kinect effect and so much more. If you’re looking to learn about the latest web development opportunities, then you’ve come to the right place.


Live Blogging from Build for Windows 8!
Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:25:50 +0000
Build for Windows 8 is the first dev camp we are running here in Singapore and we’re really excited to share with you the opportunities that Windows 8 brings to you as a developer! We’re really happy to have around 200 developers join us in this session.   If you couldn’t attend today, don’t worry, we’ll be live blogging and sharing with you resources from the dev camp! Slides will also be made available here so remember to check this page out.    Tweet us @gospiffy and use the hashtag #BuildforWin8SG 930AM - We started the day with an introduction with Alex introducing the upcoming events for Windows 8, including Campfire. We’re flying in speakers who are experts in HTML 5 and other interesting subjects in the web tech space to talk to you from 13th - 14th April! Register here: campfire.weshipcode.com 945AM - Our awesome director, Ziriad Saibi talking about the opportunity for developers. Windows 7 numbers are at 500M. That’s not even including other Windows powered devices.      10.00AM - Hammad, architect evangelist,  talking about the Metro UI and demonstrating the investments that went into Windows 8  to create a beautiful user experience for everyone (yes, even developers).    1030AM - Search is an interesting factor for developers, when a user is searching on Windows and if your app is relevant, it pops up immediately on the results screen without having to go into a browser!    1045AM - Are you a HTML5 / Javascript / .Net/ C++developer? Then you’re already equipped to be a Windows 8 developer. 11.00AM - Short break! Time for some tea. In meantime, meet Kim, our presenter for Metro UI later on!    1115AM - We are demoing a camera capture class. Its really easy to set up! Hammad just made the audience  scream ‘Metro’ and we now have videographic evidence of your presence here - uploading to Facebook. (Just Kidding, you guys are great!) 1120AM - Tiles are a great mechanism for drawing users’ attention to your application! Make sure you take some time to customize it. 1130AM - Content before chrome. Interesting research shows that browser users are hardwired into thinking that our browser chromes  are the main part of experience and not the content itself. The Metro UI allows content to come first. Immerse your users in the thing s they love instead of wasting space with the chrome. Let layout flow from edge to edge, pan only on a single axis to create a sense of stability. - more on that later during the UX session. 1140AM - Life is made a lot simpler when you use the templates from Visual Studio to create your first Metro style app. 1150AM - Introducing the App Bar: Most apps will have the app bar at the bottom that allow the user use common commands.  1157AM - Try Semantic Zooms to show richer, meta information on your groups.   1203PM - Design for touch first! Most people use the sides to navigate through the apps.. don’t expect them to use too many fingers at once! (Unless you want them to spill their Starbucks coffee all over their tablet.) 1215PM - Lunch! Did you guys enjoy it?    1.20PM - Full and ready to learn more about Windows 8 development! Kim is sharing about resources for developing on the Metro UI. He’s also giving great tips about the commanding surfaces that allows users to have greater interaction with the touch device. R. emember to check out our tutorial about Visual Blend, that will help you prototype UIs quickly. 1.35PM - Need design assests? Download them here. 1.45PM - Remembering to scale your graphics properly is important! Run it on the emulator to try how it looks like. 1.50PM - We love animations that make your app feel more alive. Built in controls are provided for free. You can also look for more in the Windows 8 Animation Library. Very useful. 2.00PM - 5 T-Shirts given to our awesome attendees! Great questions on the APIs, porting of apps. Keep the questions coming in! 2.05PM - Darren Sim, talking about integrating applications with web services.   2.13PM - Again, search is universally accessible and contextual. Darren is demo-ing it right now!    2.40PM - A really funny presentation from Darren who is sharing about how to call certain features using javascript. The tutorial is found on MSDN.   3.00PM - So many questions! And the IE T-shirts seem to be really popular.   3.15PM - Breaktime! We took some videos of the attendees, thanks for the feedback. Great to see Android and iOS developers here as well. Seem like the market share is an interesting factor when it come to deciding which platform to develop for.   3. 30PM - Hammad, our Win 8 champ, is on again. We’re learning about extension methods that bridge the gap between the new Windows Runtime and managed code. When you use Runtime, your apps are going to be super fast. 4.00PM - Ed Quek from Microsoft APAC is sharing about the Windows Store right now. 4.05PM - demoing the Windows Store, did you know that 70% of apps get buried in the app store? Windows is going to help you overcome that! Check out how to sell your apps and the descriptions you’ll need here. 4.30PM - As a developer you get 70% of whatever you sell on the store. If you get over US$25,000 you get 80%! It’s a tiered model. 4.38PM - Trials matter. You get a 70% better chance of converting users into paying ones by offering trials! Keep that in mind when you’re deciding the price and sales model. 4.40PM - Singapore is one of the countries with that will have the Windows Store supported. Go little red dot! 4.45PM - The cost to register for a Windows Store developer account in the United States is 49 USD for an individual and 99 USD for a company. For the price in your local currency, see Developer countries and regions.


Blend for Visual Studio 11 Beta: All You Need To Know
Tue, 27 Mar 2012 01:54:19 +0000
We have compiled a great resource of Visual Studio 11 Beta in our previous post, now it’s time to know all about its sibling: Blend for Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta. It is a WYSIWYG design tool that helps you create Metro style apps using both HTML-CSS-JavaScript or classic XAML. Blend is designed to work seamlessly with Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Express Beta. Metro style app projects can move seamlessly back and forth between Blend and Visual Studio, making it possible for designers and developers to work on the same application in their preferred development environment. Before you start developing apps using Blend for VS 11 Beta, first thing you need to know: you must run Blend on Windows 8 Consumer Preview to develop Metro style apps. If you are running Blend on Windows 7, using current Beta release,  you can’t develop Metro style apps.


Attention Developers: Windows Phone SDK 7.1.1 Update Has Landed
Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:56:07 +0000
Hurray! More integration with Windows 8 powered devices!  The Windows Phone team announced on their blog today that the release of the Windows Phone SDK 7.1.1 Update is now available for immediate download on the Microsoft Download Center. The two highlights of this update are:

Develop apps that work well on the new 256 MB devices
Use the WPSDK 7.1 to develop on machines running Windows 8

This update goes a long way to making it easier for folks to build apps that target both Windows Phone and Windows 8; the WPSDK 7.1.1 runs quite well side-by-side with Visual Studio ‘11’. Particularly with the Consumer Preview out, the ability to run the IDEs side-by-side has been a major request from our developer community. For Windows Phone developers, this is a great opportunity to explore the Windows 8 marketplace as another channel for your applications. Find out more about developing on Windows 8 in our ‘Build for Windows 8’ workshop this Friday as well.


TechNet Radio: Microsoft MVP Sainath K.E.V on Hyper-V, System Center 2012 and Cloud Security
Sun, 25 Mar 2012 22:46:10 +0000
   One of our local MVPs, Sainath K.E.V is featured on TechNet Radio. Tune in to this TechNet Radio to hear from him about his view on cloud computing. He also talked about his expereinces on System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 and Hyper-V related deployment from his actual day job, more importantly he talked about Cloud Security. Take action and try out System Center 2012 products yourself, download System Center 2012  through one Single download today!


No Better Time
Sat, 24 Mar 2012 06:27:40 +0000

Now is your chance to seize the future of streamlined development and save big. Buy or upgradeto Visual Studio with MSDN and implement an ALM strategy across the entire lifespan of development projects, from creation through deployment. For a limited time, you can buy at a low price and engage with us as your partner to help you advance your ALM practice. And since every active MSDN subscriber gets the next version of Visual Studio when it is released, there is no reason to wait.


Singapore Windows IT Pro Group meetup
Fri, 23 Mar 2012 02:46:10 +0000

Get the latest Windows Server “8”  technical information by joining your peers at the upcoming Singapore Windows IT Pro Group meet up on 28 March 2012. The SWUG has specially arrange two main topics for this meet up - What’s new with Hyper-V in Windows Server “8” and Overview of Hyper-V Networking in Windows Server “8”. Register now by emailing the following details to admin@sgwindowsgroup.org - SWUG ID - Name - Email Address Note: There won’t be an event confirmation. Just turn up, we don’t turn people away. However, please register if you’re coming.   Session 1 – What’s new with Hyper-V in Windows Server “8” Learn on the upcoming changes and feature updates with Hyper-V in Windows 8 Server compared to the current version of Hyper-v in Windows 2008 R2 SP1. We will cover some of the new features in Windows 8 Server Beta which will impact and benefit the deployment of a virtual infrastructure on Hyper-V such as the new Server Manager and NIC Teaming. In this session you will see why Hyper-V in the next release of Windows will be the platform of the future for deploying your server virtualization and private cloud infrastructure. Session 2 – Overview of Hyper-V Networking in  Windows Server “8”


Build for Windows 8 Comes to Singapore
Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:14:40 +0000
Apps are going to be at the center of the new Windows 8 experience. As a developer, you will be given unprecedented access to millions of Windows users worldwide. Microsoft is proud to bring Build for Windows 8 to Singapore,  a free, fun, no-fluff event for developers, by developers. This full day event will let you experience developing on the new Windows 8 platform.  You will learn from experts in a low-key, interactive way and then you’ll get to apply what you’ve learned. Spaces are limited, register at  bit.ly/buildforwin8 now! Time and Date - 9am to 5pm, 30th March 2012 Location - Level 22, Microsoft Singapore,1 Marina Boulevard, One Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018989 


FREE resources for Microsoft SQL Server 2012
Wed, 21 Mar 2012 07:28:34 +0000
If you are looking to learn about the new SQL Server 2012. Here are some great resources to help you.    Over at Microsoft Virtual Academy , there are 5 FREE online training modules for SQL Server 2010. Sign up for FREE and enjoy the great content. Breakthrough Insights using Microsoft SQL Server 2012 - Analysis Services Breakthrough Insights using Microsoft SQL Server 2012 - Scalable data warehouse Breakthrough Insights using Microsoft SQL Server 2012 - Reporting Services Cloud on your terms with Microsoft SQL server 2012: Scale on demand Mission Critical Confidence using Microsoft SQL Server 2012    The Final and Complete edition of of Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 is also now available for FREE download. Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 includes 10 chapters: PART I DATABASE ADMINISTRATION (by Ross Mistry) 1. SQL Server 2012 Editions and Engine Enhancements 2. High-Availability and Disaster-Recovery Enhancements 3. Performance and Scalability 4. Security Enhancements 5. Programmability and Beyond-Relational Enhancements PART II BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE DEVELOPMENT (by Stacia Misner) 6. Integration Services 7. Data Quality Services 8. Master Data Services 9. Analysis Services and PowerPivot 10. Reporting Services


Visual Studio 11 Beta: All You Need To Know
Tue, 20 Mar 2012 21:28:05 +0000
 Along with the new release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview, Microsoft also launched complete set of development tools that contains Visual Studio 11 Express Beta and Blend for Visual Studio. These are the tool to build Metro style apps for Windows 8. It includes the Windows 8 SDK, templates and enables access to Windows 8 APIs. Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Beta has a new, simpler, refreshed UI, and it includes fully featured code editor, a powerful debugger, a focused profiler, and rich language support that you can use to build apps that written in HTML5, JavaScript, C++, C# or Visual Basic. Visual Studio 11 Express Beta for Windows 8 also includes a device simulator that you can use to test Metro style apps on multiple form factors.  Below, we have compiled thorough list of what you need to know to get started on VS 11 Beta. Don’t forget to check out our easy step by step guide on how to develop apps for Windows 8 Consumer Preview.


Thank You And A Preview Of Apps From #WhereIsMyLumia Campaign
Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:01:42 +0000
The Lumia series represents a significant milestone of Microsoft & Nokia’s partnership in bringing a new experience to Windows Phone users. Developers play a big role in shaping this experience with us. To allow more developers in Singapore the experience of developing on the Windows Phone platform, we  announced the #WhereIsMyLumia campaign a little over two months ago. So far we have been overwhelmed by the response, with more than 100 developers applying with their wonderful app ideas. Although we couldn’t give everyone theirs this time, we are still committed to supporting you with the resources needed in the development  process. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT! Look out for our upcoming campaigns and training sessions for the Windows Phone and Windows 8 platforms as well! We sincerely thank you for you support and feel free to drop us an email, a tweet or facebook message if we could help you with anything else. In meantime, here’s a sneak peak of the first few apps developed from #WhereIsMyLumia: 1. SG Promotions by Steve Teo - sg.promotions is a locator that allows bargain-hunters to find promotions in Singapore    For the lite version. 2. Gradulator by Tan Jianhao Steve - Gradulator is a one-of-a-kind application that allows users to aim for the grades that they want, by calculating how much they need for their final exam! (Definitely a handy app for all students out there.)   3. Pics on Geo by Lim Hong Wei Kelvin - Pics on Geo automatically geo tags the users photos when taken. At the same time, users can see photos geo-tagged and recommended by other friends.    4. SP Render by  Tan Eik Chor Christopher - This app is particularly useful for those thinking of taking a course in Digital Media. It showcases the best works by the graduating cohort of 2012, School of Digital Media and Infocomm Technology (DMIT), Singapore Polytechnic (SP), with award-winning spectra of projects.    Congratulations again to all the developers who took part in #WhereIsMyLumia and got their Lumia 800! We’re looking forward to your apps and hope you have a fun time developing them. Look out for our upcoming campaigns for Windows 8 and Windows Phones as well!


Preview Screening of Ctrl-Alt-Compete @Blk71 And Why Startups Need To Watch It
Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:56:46 +0000
 You won’t find a more relevant discussion about the current state of startups in the United States than in Clt-Alt-Compete. The documentary, which is screening privately at the moment, follows the lives of 5 startup founders and their teams. While shot in the US, I think many of the issues raised, mindsets showcased, also reflect the attitudes of startups here in Singapore - minus the flamboyance and with a little less ego. I refuse to spoil the movie for you, because I’m insisting that everyone interested in the startup scene should watch it. The show is peppered with tonnes of great quotes from superstar entrepreneurs like Tony Hsieh of Zappos, Micah Baldwin of Graphic.ly, Ben Huh of Cheezburger and venture capitalist Mark Suster of GRP Partners (who is somewhat a demi-god VC author at Both Sides of the Table). Some of these scenes from Clt-Alt-Compete left a lasting impression on me, particularly:


Work Smarter with Future of Productivity - Joint User Groups Meet Up on 21st Mar
Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:24:17 +0000
“A day in the life” at Contoso - Work Smarter with Future of Productivity (5 Series) Date: 21st March Time: 7:00PM - 9:00PM Location: Level 21 Auditorium, Microsoft, No.1 Marina Boulevard, One Marina Boulevard, Singapore 0189189 SharePoint, Office and Messaging Talk user groups are co-organizing a series of meet ups on Future of Productivity! The activities in this whole series is represent a day in the life of the characters at work during a busy period.  Karen starts her day remote and on the go. Along with her fellow Contoso employees, she will be keeping up with email, responding to a sales request and finding people and information in order to effectively analyze data needed to complete a sales proposal and presentation.  Karen involves Allie and the Contoso Singapore office to complete a sales proposal and presentation for a customer, A. Datum. This will break out into 5 different Series (5 meetup) Series 1 - Be Productive on the go Series 2 - Stay on top of your inbox Series 3 - Communicate and connect in real time with customer Series 4 - Gain business insights Series 5 - Create content collaboratively   Come and experience how Microsoft can help you in productivity. *Note: Due to there is not enough of laptop, please bring your own laptops with Office 2010 installed to participate by accessing SharePoint 2010 and be a part of the experience as well.


Cool Software That Translates Your Voice into Various Languages
Tue, 13 Mar 2012 01:32:42 +0000
 Microsoft researchers are one step closer to making the Babel Fish from Douglas Adams’ “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”  a reality - minus the fish. The team demonstrated the software, which learns the sound of your voice and uses it to speak in another chosen language. The potential in this is to make language learning software more personal, or to make tools for business or casual travelers. Microsoft research scientist Frank Soong showed off  his software, which could immediately read out text in Spanish using the voice of Rick Rashid, Chief Research Officer at Microsoft . In a separate demonstration, Craig Mundie, Microsoft’s chief research and strategy officer, was given the ability to speak Mandarin using the same software.  Check out the really cool demo that took place in Redmond for Techfest 2012 here. (The demo starts at around the 12th minute) The new software can also be used to help people learn a language by hearing foreign phrases in a their own voice. Frank also demonstrated how the system  could allow a synthetic English voice  on a navigational phone app read out text written on Chinese road signs as it relayed instructions for a route in Beijing. While it is still in training mode, it’s exciting to imagine how powerful this piece of technology could be when integrated with  smartphones. No matter which part of the world you may be, you will potentially never be lost in translation again!


Best Practice: Design an User Interface for Windows Phone 7 Applications?
Sun, 11 Mar 2012 19:16:02 +0000
Learn how to develop a Windows Phone 7 application with various user interface design aspects in less than 10mins.This sample demonstrates a simple application to

 work with panorama control,
apply themes in Windows Phone 7 application and
 develop custom application bar.

Watch now!


How to Develop Apps for Windows 8 Consumer Preview in 5 Easy Steps
Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:37:41 +0000
Welcome to developing for Windows 8 Consumer Preview!  You’ve witnessed the brand new Windows 8 experience from the Consumer Preview. Why not start developing for it now? This start-up kit will help you create exciting new experiences for Windows users globally. Let’s get started! Step 1. Check for recommended system requirements to ensure optimal development performance.  If you’re all revved up to start developing apps for Windows 8, check for the list of recommended system requirements.


"Why System Center 2012 is like my wife" by John Westworth
Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:43:28 +0000
I saw this post by John Westworth couple of days back. John Westworth is a Technology Strategist at UK. I like his post a lot. I don’t have any child myself, but I can relate to his story. This is how he sees System Center 2012.    For more details go to: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/system-center/default.aspx Try out System Center 2012 through one Single download today!


Windows Server "8" First Look course available on MVA
Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:34:09 +0000
I always say Microsoft Virtual Academy is a great resource to go to. Why? As Windows Server “8” is available to all FREE, the new course on Windows Server “8” is also available to help you to be ready! Join MVA and enroll to the FREE new Windows Server “8” course!
Course introduction:
Attend this course to learn how to cloud optimize your IT with Windows Server “8”. We will show you how you can take advantage of the skills and investment you’ve already made in building a familiar and consistent platform. Windows Server “8” builds on that familiarity and cloud optimizes your IT. With Windows Server “8”, you gain all the Microsoft experience behind building and operating private and public clouds, delivered as a dynamic, available, and cost-effective server platform. The course will cover how Windows Server “8” delivers value in four key ways including how it takes you beyond virtualization, delivers the power of many servers, opens the door to every app on any cloud, and enables the modern workstyle.


Are you ready for Windows Server "8" Beta?
Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:58:48 +0000
 The wait is finally over! Windows Server “8” Beta is now available for download!  Try out exciting features like

NIC Teaming,
SMB 2.2,
Share Nothing Live Migration
Hyper-V Replica.
…….
…..

And many many more other features. Go to TechNet Evaluation Center for all the latest resources and installation guide. Wondering what is new? Check out the TechNet Library on Windows Server “8” Be the first to experience all that Windows Server “8” has to offer, including a cloud optimized, a highly dynamic, available and cost-effective server platform.


Windows 8 Consumer Preview is Here
Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:45:31 +0000
 
Yesterday 29 February 2012 at Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona, Microsoft Corp. announced the availability of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview — the next milestone of the Windows operating system. This latest preview will be made available for download starting today at http://preview.windows.com. The Windows 8 Consumer Preview offers a more robust experience for testing the world’s most popular operating system and is available to the widest range of people yet following the initial release of the Windows 8 Developer Preview late last year. With Windows 8, the whole experience of Windows has been reimagined. It’s designed to work on a wide range of devices , from touch-enabled tablets, to laptops, to desktops and all-in-ones. Read full press release here, and the official blog announcement here.  More images see the complete Windows 8 image gallery. Also, watch the video demo. We have compiled for you all the resources available at the moment regarding Windows 8 for both developers and IT Pros. Take a look at below and get your hands on Windows 8 Consumer Preview right now! For Developers, start building apps now :


Active Directory Health Checked!
Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:31:17 +0000
Hi all, Thank-you for participating in our first Lunch & Learn with PFE last Friday and we are humbled by the positive feedbacks. Please keep your feedbacks coming in so that we can continue to improve our future engagements with you and the IT Pro community. As mentioned during our closing, DPE (Developer & Platform Evangelism) team is running a workshop on Datacenter Virtualization in March, click HERE to find out more! Big thank-you to Stanley and PFE team for sharing with us great insides about AD and also introduced useful diagnostic & monitoring tools for AD. As promised, here are the slides from Stanley. [slideshare id=11754867&doc=checkingthehealthofyouractivedirectoryenviornment-120226080110-phpapp02] [slideshare id=11754882&doc=adupgrade-120226080323-phpapp01] Should you have any enquries, here’s the list of Microsoft Hotlink support you can call.


Founder's Institute, BizSpark and me in between
Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:20:51 +0000
Founder’s Institute (FI) Running for 2.7 years now, is a “global network of startups and mentors that helps entrepreneurs launch meaningful and enduring technology companies”. Founded by Adeo Ressi, an entrepreneur himself, FI aims to help entrepreneurs worldwide with the vision of helping launch 1,000 technology companies per year worldwide.   Just finishing its fourth semester, Singapore is one of the first countries to have FI in Asia (if not the first) and I’m lucky to have been part of it. [caption id="" align=“alignnone” width=“497” caption=“Founder’s Institute Singapore 4th Semester”][/caption] I formally joined the second semester as I have some ideas that I wanted to cultivate and it was a challenge that I wanted to conquer. Every week for four months, we were introduced to a new founder that will talk about a specific topic. There were tons of awesome founders that I met from really cool startups from the US and VCs from all over the world. I had the opportunity of meeting Phil Libin from Evernote and Aaron Patzer from Mint. They both had really solid talks and it was great meeting successful people talking about their previous failures. Those are the stories you rarely hear. Three months pass and sadly, I wasn’t able to graduate as I wasn’t ready to incorporate. Incorporation is one of the requirements to graduate the class and is one of the last milestones. Of course, your idea will be evaluated as it’s one of the first milestones aside from your commitment and dedication to the program. Founder’s Institute is of course always compared to other incubators or accelerator programs and Adeo himself has a good answer in one quora thread. They have positioned themselves well and it’s really up to you to find out if the program has value for you. For me, it was a good primer in knowing what to consider when forming a company. For first time entrepreneurs, the basics is always something we won’t know especially if we don’t have a business background. The network is another great value that is not so obvious to outsiders. Starting a company is a hard and lonely path; having a circle of supporters and friends is essential in ensuring your success. I’ve seen the FI family grow in Singapore and the diversity of people just makes the stew even more interesting every semester. Since the second semester, I’ve been supporting FI through my work in Microsoft. Being the lead for the BizSpark program in Singapore, it was just natural to work closely with the guys behind SGFI. Providing them with all the benefits and other cool stuff that BizSpark and Microsoft has to offer for startups. If you want to know more about FI or BizSpark, check out their sites and if you’re in Singapore and interested to know more, feel free to ping me.


Upcoming Must Have Games for Windows Phone - March 2012
Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:37:28 +0000

The 5 Must Have Games 2012 promotion for February is nearly over, but don’t worry, Microsoft has just announced several new mobile  Live titles for upcoming March release. Excited? Us too! Xbox Live for Windows Phone 7 game line-up for March 2012 includes:

Gerbil Physics - We love the idea of turning an already popular Xbox Live Indie Gameinto the mobile version. The Windows Phone version is said to have three times as many levels as the original, plus lots of new animations and music. Gerbil Physics will be released for official price of $2.99.




HTML 5 Showcase: Final Fantasy XIII-2 : Mog's Tweet Catch
Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:53:32 +0000
 Microsoft Japan worked together with Square Enix – famous for their award-winning Final Fantasy roleplaying games – has just released a HTML5-based mini-game called Mog’s Tweet Catch to promote the latest incarnation of the legendary game franchise: FINAL FANTASY XIII-2. Check out the super cute screenshots below:   The objective of the simple game is to use ‘Mog’ (Final Fantasy’s cute game mascot) to catch tweets online talking about Final Fantasy. The more tweets that you can catch, the better chance you have to unlock web-only goodies such as downloadable Twitter avatars, wallpapers and so forth. The entire experience is co-branded with IE9 and Xbox 360. Try it yourself! PLAY NOW.


Take a peek at IE Performance Lab. Yes, we are serious.
Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:43:34 +0000
One engineering objective of Internet Explorer 9 is to build the world’s fastest browser. Browser performance matters to everyone, from consumers, enterprises, developers, and the technology industry - we all share a desire for a faster and more capable Web platform. This time we are focused on the real world scenarios that matter to most users, take a look at the five IE’s performance objectives :
Five Internet Explorer 9 Performance Objectives:

Display Time: Perform user actions faster than any modern browser
Elapsed Time: Execute Web site code faster than any modern browser
CPU Time: Effectively scale computation better than any modern browser
Resource Utilization: Require less overall system resources than any modern browser
Power Consumption: Require less power than any modern browser

To achieve those objectives, over the last five years the IE team designed and built the Internet Explorer Performance Lab, one of the world’s most sophisticated web performance measurement systems. 


Lunch & Learn with PFE this Feb!
Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:18:05 +0000
 Join us for the first in a series of in-depth session on Active Directory with Microsoft technical experts and ask them all your burning questions. Microsoft® Active Directory® forms the critical backbone to support your enterprise’s information structure. A poorly functioning Active Directory environment affects security boundaries, replication, and dele-gate administration, causing significant impact to your business. We are delighted to have Stanley Lopez, Senior Premier Field Engineer, to speak about • how checking the health of your Active Directory Environment regularly will lower your risk of having this issues. • Learn the basic tools which you would need to use to validate your environments health. • What should be in place to ensure that everything will be working well at the end of the day


IT Camps - Hyper-V Network Optimization
Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:32:11 +0000
Recently we have series of IT Camps on Virtualization and Private Cloud in Singapore. Check out Spiffy.sg article to find out more about the IT Camps. One of the topics that generates quite a lot interests is the Hyper-V Network Optimization. We covered quite few network optimization technologies during the Camps. Here is a quick summary on these networking optimizations

TCP Chimney offload
VM Chimney
VMQ
Receive-Side Scaling (RSS)

TCP Chimney TCP Chimney Offload is a networking technology that allows the work associated with moving data across a network to be offloaded from the host computer’s CPU to the physical network adapter. In Windows Server 2008, TCP Chimney Offload enables the Windows networking subsystem to offload the processing of a TCP/IP connection to a network adapter that includes special support for TCP/IP offload processing. The offload capabilities must be enabled in the driver for the physical network adapter in the root partition. VM Chimney VM-Chimney (TCP Offload) allows the CPU workload associated with TCP/IP traffic to be offloaded to the physical NIC, reducing processor usage and increasing network performance. This has been available for physical host, now it is available for the guest operating systems. VMQ VMQ is a technology that allows the physical NIC to create unique virtual network queues for each virtual machine (VM) on the host, allowing network packets to be passed directly from the hypervisor to the VM. This reduces a lot of overhead normally associated with network traffic. Note: If a NIC has support for both VMQ and VM-Chimney, VMQ will be used. Receive-Side Scaling (RSS) Receive-Side Scaling (RSS) resolves the single-processor bottleneck by allowing the receive side network load from a network adapter to be shared across multiple processors. RSS enables packet receive-processing to scale with the number of available processors. This allows the Windows Networking subsystem to take advantage of multi-core and many core processor architectures. Jumbo Frames Jumbo frames are Ethernet frames with more than 1500 bytes of payload. Conventionally, jumbo frames can carry up to 9000 bytes of payload, but variations exist. Many Gigabit Ethernet switches and Gigabit Ethernet network interface cards support jumbo frames.                    Hyper-V Networking Best Practices Use multiple network adapters on physical hosts To ensure good networking performance, you should use separate physical adapters for the following different networks.


Supercharge your career with Private Cloud
Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:10:30 +0000
With the rising interest of CIOs in cloud computing, it is important for IT Professionals to stay ahead of the curve. Every IT Professional should understand virtualization. When implementing Microsoft Private Cloud, knowing System Center and PowerShell is crucial. While getting IT certifications may bring you bigger paycheck, we are providing you with a Private Cloud learning roadmap that help you stay competitive among your peers.  Learn at your own pace. Register at Microsoft Virtual Academy to access a wide range of topics on Microsoft’s cloud offerings.  Nothing beats learning by doing. Get hands-on experience with our tools.


Imagine Cup 2012 : Round 1 Result Announcement
Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:44:53 +0000
The result for the Imagine Cup 2012 - Round 1 will be announced here progressively in the next few hours as we complete the paperwork for each team. The order of the team announcement is in random order (1st to be announced != highest score).

Typhoon [NYP]
AlphaWaves [NYP]
Health Angle [NTU]
Eynteract [SP/TP]
Team Social Cops [NTU]
Kinecteract [NYP]
Kinect4Sleep [NYP]
Oceanic [NUS]
BabyGuardian [TP]
The Avengers [NYP]
PainNix [SP]
ShadowHolic [SP]
Puff Legacy II [NUS/NYP]
Super Mario [NYP]
Dyslexic Mediators [TP]
TechConnect [SUTD]

The results are all out. Thank you! For those who did not qualify into Round 2, we will like to thank you for your participation and hope to see you in our future events!


Startup Asia 2012
Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:57:53 +0000
Startup Asia is the years first big startup conference here in Singapore. Held February 2 and 3 at the Singapore Post Centre. Their tagline of ‘Pitches, Demos, Founders, & NO B.S." is quite straight forward as a reference to other startup events. From the details page alone, you can see that they have an impressive set of guest panelists, investors and attendees from all over Asia. Mobile giants, Gree and Dena as well as several Japanese and Chinese investors. A lot of local players as well representing different industries and sides of the startup world were present.


extended MSDN promo
Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:35:58 +0000



If you currently own Visual Studio 2008, here is a great way to upgrade to Visual Studio 20 10 and get an MSDN subscription at a great price!

If you own Visual Studio 2010 but don’t currently have an MSDN subscription, you can now upgrade and get all the advantages of MSDN!


Attaching an MSDN® subscription to Microsoft® Visual Studio® 2010 conveniently and cost-effectively gives you comprehensive access to the Microsoft development platform, tools, and resources to build high-quality applications for the Web, Mobile, Cloud, and Windows®.


Skype 5.8 For Windows Now Brings Full HD & Facebook Video Calling
Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:35:02 +0000
Skype and Facebook have teamed up to make it  easier than ever to stay in touch. Now the newest version of Skype for Windows, Skype 5.8.0.154 allows you to make video and voice calls to all your Facebook friends direct from Skype. The feature works even with Facebook friends who are not Skype users. Even before this update, Skype was already integrated with Facebook and allowed you to chat with friends, read status updates and more.  Highlights of the new Skype for Windows update includes:


Windows Embedded, Surface 2.0, Microsoft Tag, Windows Phone and Kinect come together for "5D" experience
Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:01:35 +0000
[vimeo width=“600” height=“300”]http://vimeo.com/35533524[/vimeo] At the 2012 NRF Convention & Expo in NYC, in partnership with NEC and Microsoft, the team from Razorfish has created the first ever Retail Experience Platform code-named “5D”.  Leveraging Windows Embedded, Microsoft Surface, MS Tag, Windows Phone and Kinect for Windows, they created a prototype around a fictitious brand “Razorfashion” that demonstrates how various touch points along the customer journey can attract consumers into the store, drive product engagement and arm store associates with more contextualized digital tools. The 5 in 5D itself refers to the integration of digital devices (such as kiosks, large-screen displays, smartphones), content, experiences, analytics and CRM - with a touch of digital magic. It’s very exciting to see how they have successfully shown us the potential of combining Microsoft technologies to build new digitalized user experience in retail platform. Hopefully we’ll see more of this in the future market! And now, 5D is available as a beta version. You can read the full press release here, and also the official announcement on the Emerging Experiences blog.


SQL UG 6th Feb meet up with Special Speaker
Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:21:40 +0000
Singapore SQL User Group is running a special meet up with industry expert to talk about their expereince on implementing Data Mining. Join your peers for a special meet up on 6th Feb. Data Mini****ng for Social Moderation The BBC (the British Broadcasting Company), a known media force in Europe, implemented an in-database data mining solution for their public-facing website. The BBC encourages users to post comments and become part of their social media community. In this project, the BBC needed a way to improve the social moderation of millions of posts on thousands of forums. This presentation covers how SQL Server helped designing a model to dramatically help improving the quality and efficiency of the moderation. We also discuss cost efficiencies obtained in this project. More and more organizations will need to use enterprise solutions to handle high-volume social networking, learn from it, and eventually take actions that make sense to achieve their goals. Data Mining is one of the areas with more potential growth for SQL Server, and perhaps one of the least known ones by the SQL Server professionals.   Speaker Profile: Fernando G. Guerrero. Global CEO of SolidQ. a Civil Engineer and former lecturer of Surveying and Photogrammetry at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, he spent 15 years working in Indonesia, Morocco, Bolivia, Ecuador, the UK and the USA, in projects financed by the European Union, the European Investment Bank, The World Bank, and the Spanish International Cooperation Agency. Mr Guerrero is a published author and a frequent speaker at international conferences. He holds the honorific title of Microsoft Regional Director for Spain, and received the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award for SQL Server from 2000 until 2007   Venue: Microsoft Singapore Pte. Ltd. 1 Marina Boulevard #22-01 One Marina Boulevard Singapore 018989 Date/Time: 6 February 2012/7 pm onwards   For confirmation please send email to sgsql@live.com


Free Lumia for HTML5 developers!
Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:27:19 +0000
The #WhereIsMyLumia campaign proposal period is now over. Thank you for your tremendous support!
 


Yes, we are giving away Nokia Lumia 800 to our developers and here is how:

Follow us on Spiffy and Join us at Facebook page Spiffy to receive information on this program.
Submit your three app ideas* to whereismylumia@hotmail.com with subject “#WhereIsMyLumia”. Include the name and description of your app. The applications need to be implemented using PhoneGap HTML5 mobile framework.
If your app is approved, you will be informed through email, along with instructions to pick up your loaner device** in our Microsoft Singapore office.
You are required to submit one approved application to Marketplace every month, for 3 months - to keep the device. Until then, it’s a loaner device.
If you fail to propose/send in an approved app and submit to Marketplace on the agreed month, you will have to return the device to Microsoft Singapore.

*You are encouraged to utilize native phone functions (camera, geolocation and etc). Refer to PhoneGap’s Supported Feature page. Your proposals will have higher chance if you are porting over an existing HTML5 from iOS or Android.  **First come first serve due to devices availability. For developers in Singapore only.


Kinect for Windows is Here!
Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:01:47 +0000

The day has finally come. Kinect is officially coming to Windows! On 9th Jan 2012, during CES Steve Ballmer announced that Microsoft would ship Kinect for Windows on February 1st and yesterday, version 1.0 of the commercial SDK and runtime were made available for download. Also, the distribution partners in twelve launch countries are starting to ship Kinect for Windows hardware, with suggested retail price $249. Kinect has changed the way people play games and experience entertainment. Now, Kinect for Windows offers the potential to transform how people interact with computers and Windows-embedded devices in multiple industries, including education, healthcare, retail, transportation, and beyond. Kinect shows the promise of Natural User Interface (NUI) and the role Microsoft plays as a thought-leader and technical innovator in this exciting space. Since the last beta, the updated SDK has picked up a number of new features including support for up to four Kinects being used simultaneously and near mode for monitoring motion from just 40cm away. See the complete product features here. Looking for great on content on how to build apps for Kinect? Visit Channel 9 where we have updated quick starts and open source projects. Get Started -  Kinect for Windows Quickstart Series


PhoneGap with Windows Phone resource page
Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:34:06 +0000
Recently I have received some demand of building HTML5 mobile app on Windows Phone Mango. Hence, I think it is a good chance to introduce PhoneGap this HTML5 mobile framework, which has full suports for Windows Phone Mango.  If you are using PhoneGap this kind of framework, you are building a hybrid application. What is a hybrid application? It is an application that runs with browser components, but could be able to utilize the phone functionality (such as camera, geolocation, notification and etc). Hybrid application is downloadable through marketplace as well. To the end user, there is no difference from hybrid and native application. But for our developers, it is a huge different. If developer wants to build native application for all different platform, he needs to use C# for Windows Phone, Objective-C for iPhone and Java for Android. However, if developer building hybrid application, he only needs to take care of HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Question: Why should we consider HTML5 mobile? If you are a developer targeting on multiple platform (Wp7, iOS, Android), using standard technology (HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript) is a very cost-effective choice for you. Question: How does this compare to native application? Hybrid application utilized the power of browser rendering engine.  However, native application will be able to utilize the graphic APIs of the operating system. Hence, hybrid application couldn’t achieve game-quality graphics. Moreover, take windows phone platform as a sample. Application Bar is a very useful control developer usually uses for layering their applications. For hybrid application, since its just HTMl and CSS, you need to figure out the layout yourself by coding.  Even there will be templates in the future, it is just mimicking the control and it won’t be as convenient as using native SDK.  Please check PhoneGap on Windows Phone Tips series (5 Tips in the end of this article) for mimicking native control, such as Live tiles, Deep linking, handling orientation. Here is all the references:  PhoneGap Get Start Guide for WP:Start Guide | GetStart video 1 | GetStart video2 PhoneGap API Reference: Reference PhoneGap official Wiki: Wiki Useful tutorials:


Microsoft Announced New 5 Must Have Games for Windows Phone
Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:29:35 +0000
 Starting Feb 1st, all Windows Phone owners can enjoy five new self-titled Must Have Games announced by Microsoft. These great line-ups will be released across February, with one title each per week and prices ranging from $2.99 - $4.99. Complete with Xbox LIVE Achievements, leaderboards and more, Must Have Games brings more great games to Xbox LIVE for Windows Phone. Game line-up includes:


New Usage Reference Site for HTML5 and CSS3 Launches!
Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:22:44 +0000
HTML5Plase.us : “Use the new and shiny responsibly.”  HTML5Please is a newly launched website that enables developer to look up HTML5 & CSS3 features to know if they are ready for use in your actual project. This reference site represent the collective knowledge of developers who have been deep in the HTML5 trenches, to be exact, created as a community project by the people behind HTML5 Boilerplate, Modernizr and CSS3 Please!. HTML5Please provides comprehensive & straightforward guidance for each element and property, with colored flags and information regarding browser support, including for IE10+, IE9, IE8, IE7, and non-IE browsers.  It also helps you out with recommendations for polyfills and implementation so you can decide if and how to put each of these features to use. An integrated filter enables you to rapidly refine your search to just the features you’re interested in. You can read more the making of HTML5Please here. Other resources: http://caniuse.com/ – Compatibility tables for support of HTML5, CSS3, SVG and more in desktop and mobile browsers. http://modernizr.com – Open-source JavaScript library that gives you the power of feature detection to help you build the next generation of HTML5 and CSS3-powered websites. http://haz.io/ – gives a quick overview of your browser’s support for recent technologies in the world of HTML, CSS and JavaScript. http://mobilehtml5.org/ – Learn more about HTML5 compatibility on mobile and tablet browsers [wiki] Cross-browser Polyfills


One-Stop Resource for Learning Private Cloud
Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:33:20 +0000
Here we’ve compiled great amount of resources on Private Cloud. Learn from the basic on how the private cloud can help your business and your IT Pro career, using these useful links ranging from virtual event, MVA courses, videos to screencast. Upcoming Event on 19 Jan 2012 : “Transforming IT with Microsoft Private Cloud”  MVA (Microsoft Virtual Academy) Courses :

Planning, Building and Managing a Private Cloud
Microsoft Virtualization for VMware Professionals – Management
Microsoft Virtualization for VMware Professionals – The Platform
Microsoft Private Cloud Infrastructure
Enhancing Your Business and Career with the Private Cloud

TechNet Radio (Videos) :


Hyper-V and Windows 7 better together
Thu, 12 Jan 2012 03:39:17 +0000
Recently we asked few times if should company virtualize Windows 7 Guest OS or stay on Windows XP. The answer is straight forward, go for Win7. Reason being - better VM/logical processor support. If you have Hyper-V with Win7 as guest OS, the VM/logical processor ratio is 12:1. With other guest OS, the ratio is only 8:1. You can scale out more and have better density. Most people are familiar with VMs/core concept. VMs/core implies only physical core support. Logical processors can be either physical or multi threaded cores. As an example, Intels Westmere processors support 6 cores. With multi threading support, you actually have 12 logical processors. This means that on just one of these Westmere processors, we can scale up to 144 VMs! Then comes the licensing question. What is the best general licensing model to virtualize so many VMs. The best way to go for most cases is to purchase Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Datacenter edition. The Datacenter edition gives unlimited VMs per processor licensing. It is a very cost effective way for most cases. Let’s be honest that density and VM/logical processor will always increase, you want to have the flexibility to scale up. To know more about licensing on Microsoft Products, the best place to get the information is to visit http://www.microsoft.com/singapore/licensing/ 


Transforming IT with Microsoft Private Cloud on 19th Jan
Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:18:57 +0000
 The definition, business value, and technology benefits of the “the cloud”  have been hotly debated in recent months.  Most agree that cloud computing can accelerate innovation, reduce costs, and increase business agility in the market.  In 2012, cloud computing will transition from hype and discussion, to part of every enterprise’s reality, and IT is uniquely positioned to lead this transformation and help business reap the benefits of cloud computing. Join us for a virtual event designed to help you explore your cloud options. It’s your chance to interact with Microsoft experts and with IT leaders like yourself, who have been putting cloud technology to work in their own organizations. You’ll be among the first to hear the latest private cloud news from Microsoft Transforming IT with Microsoft Private Cloud Thursday,January 1__9, 2012, 11:00 A.M-1:00 P.M. Singapore  Time Here’s what we have planned: •Hear from other senior IT professionals about how cloud computing can help you gain maximum competitive advantage with minimal risk. •Learn about Microsoft cloud offerings, including private, public, and hybrid cloud models. • Experience Microsoft private cloud solutions through the Microsoft Technology Center   Microsoft Executive Panelists:  Satya Nadella President, Server and Tools Business, Microsoft  Brad Anderson Corporate Vice President, Management and Security Division, Microsoft  Antoine Aguado Senior Director, Private Cloud and Server, M&O Microsoft Asia Pacific


Om Nom has gone #html5!
Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:17:39 +0000
The curiously cute green monster - Om Nom is now om-line with 25 levels for free at http://www.cuttherope.ie/! Created by ZeptoLap, Om Nom is built entirely using HTML5. You can use your mouse to manipulate ropes, airbags and bubbles to feed him candy, and collect stars along the way for more points. With the launch of IE9, there have been many wonderful opportunities partnering with developers to stretch the limits of HTML5.  A lot of the resulting experiences not only showcase the beauty of the web, but demonstrate how fast, interactive and rich the web is becoming, enabled by platforms such as IE9 and Windows 7. Check out Pirates Love Daisies, Disney Tron, and The World’s Biggest Pacman to see a few great examples of what’s to come for the web we all use and love every day. To get a sense for how the developers at Pixel Lab and ZeptoLab teamed up to turn one of the world’s most popular applications into a web experience, check out the behind the scene technical tear-down in the game. The guys have put together a short video talking about how they took Om Nom online - check it out: Now, remember to pin Cut The Rope to your Windows 7 taskbar as IE9 takes on the look and feel of the game and unlocks unique levels not found in any previous versions of Cut the Rope, giving you a full Om Nom candy eating experience.


Microsoft CES Keynote - Kinect, Windows 8 and Windows Phone
Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:09:21 +0000
This is Microsoft’s last keynote for Consumer Electronics show(CES). And keynote started with a Microsoft history video at CES. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdIfSDwfTqA[/youtube] If you missed the keynote, you still could watch it here. Here are some of the recaps for today’s CES Keynote. 1. Windows Phone with cooler devices Nokia announces its biggest yet thinnest Windows Phone to date with the Nokia Lumia 900, its first phone to support high-speed LTE data transfers. The Nokia Lumia 900 allows data downloads up to 50Mbps on AT&T’s 4G LTE network. Here is the video for more detail.  During the Keynote, Steve also demonstrated HTC Titan II. The HTC Titan II is basically an HTC Titan with LTE for AT&T and a 16 megapixel camera with backside illuminated sensor, f/2.6 AF lens and dual LED flash. You can see more details via Engadget as well. 2. Better PC runs Windows A video was played with various PC laptop updates. - SONY VAIO Z with Jaw Dropping Picture at 1080p, 15 hours of fun with attachable sheet battery - Asus Zenbook UX21 - Acer Aspire S3 with 1/2" inch thin (Acer announced new Aspire S5 - the thinnest laptop in the world) - Toshiba Portege Z830 - World Thinnest 13" Laptop - DELL XPS 14Z - LENOVO IDEAPAD U300S - SAMSUNG Series 9 - HP Envy Spectre - Cool Ultrabook with a Gorilla Glass Cover - More 3. Windows 8, Windows Store and Cut the rope Moreover, Windows 8 beta is coming end of Feb, according to Chief Marketing Officer of Microsoft. Meanwhile, Windows Store will be available to 231 markets worldwide. Windows Store was showed and we see how Cut the Rope this game in HTML5 and run well on Windows 8.  Meanwhile, we’re excited to announce a new experience on the web – a HTML5 version of the popular Cut the Rope game is now available online for free! And Visit www.cuttherope.ie to play with it!  4. Kinect and Two way interactive TV. More, Kinect with PC! Microsoft demonstrated how Kids could experience Sesame Street – going from watching the show to jumping into Elmo’s world with Kinect-enabled two-way TV. Also Microsoft announced a new partnership with NewsCorp to bring new apps for Xbox LIVE that will feature content from their leading broadcast, news and Web properties, including Fox Broadcasting, Fox News Channel, IGN Entertainment and The Wall Street Journal. Even better, starting February 1, 2012: you could use the Power of Kinect for Windows to Change the World. Here is the official announcement from Kinect team. Again, if you missed the show, you could watch it here. Enjoy CES!


Singapore Geek Girls first meet up
Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:59:47 +0000
The first meet up for Singapore Geek Girls is held in Jan 7th, 2012 at Group Therapy Coffee, with more than 35 geek girls showed up. As one of them, I am very happy to see I am no longer the minority in a techinical meet up. So what’s geek girls about?

As said, girls are unique and definitely the minority in Technology world. They look at techonology from a different angle compared to guys. By having this new network, we are hoping girls could get more connected and share more information. Or even better, we could go to techinical conference or workshop together.


How Microsoft Deployed System Center Configuration Manager 2012
Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:38:28 +0000
Microsoft is actually the biggest beta testing customer for Microsoft. Microsoft IT deploys our pre-release product all the time. They feedback their learnings to products groups and some of them become best practices. In this video, You will see how Microsoft IT deployed System Center Configuration Manager 2012 to manage 280,000 users in the first phase of migration, which took less than 90 days. Configuration Manager 2012 was built on the vision of a user-centric client-management model with the vision of empowering the user, unifying infrastructure, and extending management control across the platform. You will hear more on how Microsoft IT benefit from these new features. Listen to the video to understand more. Download SCCM2012 to try it out.


IT Camps coming to you in 2012
Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:24:41 +0000
Microsoft IT Camps is coming in 2012. It is a series FREE workshops for IT Professionals to learn and understand Microsoft technologies. There are three different themes:

Datacenter Virtualization
Implementing Private Cloud
Enabling Consumerization of IT

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
Theme
Request an Invite


Lync Mobile is Here.....I'm loving it
Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:18:07 +0000
Lync Mobile Client is now available! If you have a Windows Phone then you can open the link http://windowsphone.com/s?appid=9ce93e51-5b35-e011-854c-00237de2db9e on your phone and install it. You may ask how about other platforms like, iOS, Android?  There are clients for them too!! Lync Mobile for Android  https://market.android.com/details?id=com.microsoft.office.lync Lync Mobile for iOS http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-lync-2010-for-iphone/id484293461?mt=8  Lync mobile clients enable you to stay connected, communicate and conference on the go. Mobile clients for Microsoft Lync 2010 take the power of unified communications mobile—including rich presence, instant messaging, audio conferencing, and calling features from a single, easy-to-use interface. Few features worth mentioning:


Real World Agile Roadshow Event Resources
Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:54:16 +0000
Thank you for attending “Real World Agile Roadshow” held at Microsoft Singapore Office on 25th Nov 2011. We truly hope you found the content relevant, below are the links to the slides presented on the day. Keynote: Becoming and Being Agile – What Does This Mean? Hammad Rajjoub, Microsoft Singapore   Agile in Action – Act 1: Planning, Set Up, Requirements and Architecture Colin Nah, Biz-Era Pte Ltd Agile in Action – Act 2: Development Tan Choon Ngee, aZaaS Pte Ltd Agile in Action – Act 3: Testing Tan Choon Ngee, aZaaS Pte Ltd FURTHER READING Below are some additional learning resources on the topic of Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) with Visual Studio 2010 for your reference:- Topic – ALM Overview What is ALM? Discover the three aspects of ALM - governance, development, and operations - and how each is vital throughout the entire lifecycle of an application. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9743693 ALM and Business Strategy - How well a firm executes its business strategies is tied to how good it is at creating new applications. See how ALM solves this business need. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9743690 ALM as a Business Process - Business processes are more dependent on software than ever, making the proper development of in-house applications - using ALM techniques - all the more critical. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9743691 ALM Tool Evolution - The old model of software development involved using separate tools. Today, those tools have been combined in powerful ways to optimize the end-to-end development process. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9743692 Adopting a Common ALM Foundation - Diverse tools are an inescapable fact of life in most development organizations today. Learn why it makes sense to adopt a common ALM foundation in a heterogeneous world. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9778321 Topic – Visual Studio and Team Foundation Server Introducing Visual Studio 2010 - Visual Studio 2010 offers a rich set of ALM tools that integrates key artifacts and provides full traceability and collaboration throughout the development process. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9743697 Visual Studio ALM Roadmap - Manage the entire lifespan of your applications with a set of proven processes supported by tools that integrate team members and activities. http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/roadmap ALM Summit 2010 Videos Discover how Visual Studio 2010’s rich profiling tools and real-world scenario modeling can ensure that your application is ready to perform. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9767119 For any enquires pertaining to Real World Agile Roadshow or related to Visual Studio 2010, please feel free to reach out to us at prakuma@microsoft.com or v-yilim@microsoft.com. We look forward to seeing you at our future events.


Live Streaming now on for the Kinect + Developer Conference
Mon, 05 Dec 2011 22:00:06 +0000
Due to over whelming response for the Kinect + Developer conference held in National University of Singapore, we have decided to host a “Live” Streaming of the event. This is once in a lifetime chance for you to directly interact and hear first-hand from them with Kinect experts from Microsoft Research. The conference will be stream from 2.15pm – 4pm, with a short 10 minutes break in between them. Flow of event


WATCH! Nokia Lumia Live ft Deadmau5 Lights Up London With Amazing 4D Projection.
Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:00:46 +0000
 This is way COOL! From Nokia’s official site.

On Monday 28th November Nokia Lumia 800 with Windows phonehttp://nokia.ly/uBVXxw brought deadmau5 and the world’s most advanced 4D technology together and created an amazing free light show at Millbank Tower, London.
Millbank was plunged into darkness with the iconic tower acting as the canvas for a never-before-seen spectacular. Each of the 120 metre high building’s 800 windows were covered with vinyl as 16 powerful projectors, stationed 300 metres away on the other side of the river, beamed 3D images onto the structure. Huge butterflies flew across the London skyline and the tower was twisted, pulsated and even fell down. Billed as the “future of live events” the spectacular show was accompanied by music from super producer deadmau5, who created exclusive remixes for the performance — adding the 4th dimension.


MSDN and TechNet Forum Assistant Windows Gadget
Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:58:03 +0000
You can download MSDN Forum Assistant, TechNet Forum Assistant and have the TechNet forum information delivered right to your desktop. It improves your experience in finding information in the MSDN/TechNet Forums and Community. Some of the features of this gadget are    Ask Questions - You can post questions directly to the MSDN/TechNet Forum Support Engineers. Hot Topics & Resources - The tool directs you to the hottest topics and discussions Receive Personal Updates - It gathers forum threads for you on your favorite forums Simply click on the gadget settings and you can choose your favorite forums 


60 Developers, 15 Hours of coding for 16 Great Windows Phone Application
Tue, 22 Nov 2011 22:32:14 +0000
We had many developers coming down to the Microsoft Singapore venue to compete in the Nokia X-Calibre Hackathon conducted by Nokia Singapore on 19 November 2011. Everyone is busy coding and polishing our their best Windows Phone 7 Application for the competition within a short period of 15 hours. They were all working on application for the Windows Phone 7.5 (code-named “Mango”) using the 7.1 SDK. In the Microsoft Singapore venue, we had 4 Windows Phone 7 Champs assisting the competitors to answer technical and design issues during the competition. 3 of those Windows Phone 7 Champs are also Microsoft Student Partners - Kin Seng, Kim and myself. Lots of awesome applications were completed during the competition, I shall update on the screenshots and results later as judging is still going on.


200 youths came together to get inspired to change their ideas into actions
Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:52:43 +0000
Last Saturday, it had been a happening weekend at Microsoft Singapore. The Microsoft Student Partners hosted yet another great event organised by youth for youth - TEDx Youth @ Singapore in the Microsoft Auditorium. Students from different walks of life from Secondary Schools to Universities coming down together to hear from numerous speakers to share their knowledge and thoughts all revolving around the theme for this year’s conference - IDEA + ACTION. This year’s conference had aim to let students be able to explore and express how youths today see things and do things in their own special way. It also hopes to encourage students in putting their dreams into actions and make it happen!


Over 1,000 students attended techfest @ Singapore Polytechnic
Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:59:08 +0000
On 9th November 2011, Microsoft Student Partners (MSP) have organised another awesome event – techfest @ Singapore Polytechnic. Making this the 1st ever Microsoft Techfest for IHLs in Singapore. In this event, we have over 1,000 students in Singapore Polytechnic attended and hear various representive from Microsoft. The team of MSPs decided to go all out on marketing effort from having posters with all around the school to distributing balloons at all the Food courts in Singapore Polytechnic. The entire school was filled with posters and balloon in lecture halls, walkways – practically any spot that you could think off! Students are also treated with music from Deejays, Kinects try-out, popcorn, candy floss etc. It’s just impossible to write those excitement and passion we felt on that day in words!


After 9/11, He was there - Backup and Restore
Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:07:02 +0000
Backup and Restore is the last defence, when everything fails everyone is relying on backup and restore. Hear from our TechDays Singapore 2011 speaker Mike Reseller on his exprience. Mike is DPM MVP, Consultant, trainer and well-known speaker. Data Protection Manager provides the capability to protect virtual machines in your IT environment, as well as the applications running on them. With the 2012 release Data Protection Manager grows these existing capabilities with support for item level recovery, even when Data Protection Manager is running in a virtual machine. Start from FREE online training - http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com To familiar yourself with new System Center 2012 Pre-release – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-sg/evalcenter/hh505660.aspx Learn about System Center 2012 Technical Resources – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-sg/evalcenter/hh478202.aspx


Truck driver turns System Center Consultant, Real life success story
Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:04:52 +0000
You know him as a well-known international speaker for System Center at TechDays Singapore 2011. He is Simon Skinner, System Center MVP, Principle Consultant and trainer with passion in Technology and IT. Very few people knew that he used to be a truck driver. Hear from himself on how he built his successful career with System Center. Inspired and want to advance your own career? Start from FREE online training - http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com To familiar yourself with new System Center 2012 Pre-release - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-sg/evalcenter/hh505660.aspx Learn about System Center 2012 Technical Resources - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-sg/evalcenter/hh478202.aspx


Wimbledon runs on System Center? Hear more
Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:02:54 +0000
Maarten is a System Center MVP, Consultant, Trainer and Well-known international speaker. Hear from him on some interesting projects that he did over the years.   Excited about the capabilties of System Center? Learn about System Center 2012 Technical Resources – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-sg/evalcenter/hh478202.aspx Join FREE online training - http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com Familiar yourself with new System Center 2012 Pre-release – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-sg/evalcenter/hh505660.aspx


SWUG Nov Meet Up 9th Nov 2011
Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:31:48 +0000
November Meet Up Agenda Date: 09 November 2011 Time: 7.00pm to 9.30pm Venue: 1 Marina Boulevard #22-00,MS Singapore – 22CF12 6.30pm: Registration 7.00pm: Session 1 – SCOM2012 New Application Monitoring Capabilities 8.15pm: Break 8.30pm: Session 2 – TCPIP Printer Deployment via GPP & GPO 9.30pm: Home Sweet Home Session 1 – SCOM2012 New Application Monitoring Capabilities (Richard) Abstract: In a world where systems are constantly made into web applications for easy access, the need to monitor and fault find is ever more difficult to detect. SCOM 2012 Application monitoring allows us the visibility to detect these errors and performance points into a structured way. We will discover how we can move from the unknown to a quick and easy way to bypass the unknown to the problem then onto the solution in easy steps. This helps to stop finger pointing and allow Dev and Infra team to work together more constructively. Come and see for yourself how it works. Session 2 – TCPIP Printer Deployment via GPP & GPO (Tan Chee) Abstract: Ever wonder how to deploy TCPIP printer to client machine without manually installing them one by one? Most will say script do wonders. But what if you are not familiar with scripts? Can this be done without the help of script? Tan Chee will share on his experience on using GPP and GPO to deploy TCPIP Printer on Windows 7 Client Machine. Registration For registration, please email to admin@sgwindowsgroup.org with the following: - SWUG ID - Name - Email Address Note: There won’t be an event confirmation. Just turn up, we don’t turn people away. However, please register if you’re coming.


WP7 App - ToiletPaperGame hits 1.9K download in 1 month
Fri, 04 Nov 2011 06:50:55 +0000
The Windows Phone Marketplace have been ever growing since the date it was launch. In this growing bulk of application, we found many student developers who have come out with awesome applications. I am going to share one of the application, ToiletPaperGame application developed by Wong Kin Seng, one of our Microsoft Student Partners from Temasek Polytechnic. His application have recieved wonderful response from the users worldwide and to date, it have reach up to 1.9K download in just one month.  Kin Seng shared with us on what inspired him and how easy was it to develop on Windows Phone 7.


techfest @ Singapore Polytechnic - 9th Nov
Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:48:23 +0000
Want to be part of the 1st ever TechFest in SP? Want to be part of an event filled with fun and laughter?  Want to find out what’s next for technology? Come join us now at TechFest @ Singapore Polytechnic, where regional speakers will be sharing their point of views for the future. Our guest speakers include Ziriad Saibi, Director of Developer and Platform Evangelism (DPE), Microsoft Singapore, and Vincent Quah, DPE Academic and New Markets Lead, Microsoft Asia Pacific. Hear from them first-hand. Join us now and stand a chance to win attractive prizes such as Xbox Kinect, Arc touch mouse and many more! This event is open to all Singapore Polytechnic Students, please register at http://bit.ly/sptechfest. For any enquiries, please contact the organising team via sp@student-partners.com.sg.  Another event by Microsoft Student Partners Singapore


New System Center 2012 Pre-Releases Now Available
Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:56:44 +0000
 A private cloud helps you deliver what the service consumer and the service provider want by providing a simple and effective way to deliver “IT as a Service” and today three new products in our System Center 2012 lineup that help make your private cloud experience real - specifically App Controller, Service Manager & Orchestrator. As of today, App Controller and Service Manager are in public beta while Orchestrator is available as a public release candidate. Go here to download and evaluate how App Controller, Service Manager and Orchestrator can enable your private cloud experience. If you attended TechDays Singapore 2011, we talked about all these three products. If you missed out the sessions, recordings of the sessions on App Controller, Service Manager and Orchestrator are available at link below. Cloud Management with System Center Application Controller Self-Service Private Cloud Management through Integrated Processes with Service Manager 2012 Automating your Infrastructure: Microsoft System Center Orchestrator 2012 Technical Overview To learn more about Microsoft Private Cloud and System Center go to http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com for FREE online training.


microsoft is services
Fri, 28 Oct 2011 22:46:05 +0000



Over 1000 attended Microsoft TechDays Singapore 2011!
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:02:18 +0000
  

Our first Microsoft TechDays Singapore held on 13 October 2011 attracted more than 1000 delegates! If you missed the event, do check out the highlights.We hope to see you in TechDays Singapore 2012. (you may register your interest here)
TechDays Singapore 2011 highlights
 
Keynote video
Watch Ziriad Saibi’s keynote on Microsoft’s cloud story.

 
Breakout sessions videos and slides
Track 1: Infrastructure

Self-Service Private Cloud Management through Integrated Processes with Service Manager 2012 Maarten Goet and Raju Chellam (Dell Singapore)
The Future of Infrastructure Monitoring: A Look at Application Monitoring and SCOM 2012 Raymond Chou, Simon Skinner and Wong Poey Yong (NetApp Singapore)
Configuration Manager 2012 Technical Overview Teh Wei King
SCVMM 2012 Building of Private Clouds and Federation to the Public Cloud Lai Yoong Seng
Automating your Infrastructure: Microsoft System Center Orchestrator 2012 Technical Overview Kwan Thean Keong
F5 Optimizations for Microsoft Platform Leslie Wong(F5 Networks)

Track 2: Platform

Cloud Computing with the Windows Azure Platform Ryan Crawcour
Cloud Management with System Center Application Controller Lai Yoong Seng
Microsoft Exchange Server and Office 365: Hybrid Deployment Sanjeev Thakur and Ram Muthkaruppan
SCDPM 2012: The new feature of data protection Mike Resseler
How to Run Middleware in the Cloud? Story of Windows Azure AppFabric Hammad Rajjoub
Simplified Infrastructure Solutions Thomas Chua (Hitachi Data Systems)

Track 3: Application

HTML5: All the Awesome Bits Michael Kordahi
Mango, Mango! Developing for Windows Phone 7 Mingfei Yan
Revealing WebMatrix 2.0 Beta – the Swiss Army Knife of Web Development Thye Yeow Bok
OData with WCF Web APIs: “There’s a URI for That” Alvin Lau
NUI, Gooey and Louie Michael Kordahi
Revenue Generator Suite Niger Tan (aZaaS)

Making your first step to the cloud?
Go Private or go Public? Check out the resources that will take you there. Private cloud resources: http://weshipcode.com/private Public cloud resources: http://weshipcode.com/public


HTML5: All the Awesome Bits - TechDays 2011 {app track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:34:33 +0000
Michael Kordahi is an 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. A tech guy at heart, he lives on the corner of geek and thinker, where often, he rolls his sleeves up and makes stuff. A software industry aficionado… [more]     [slideshare id=9875555&doc=mstechdays2011-html5alltheawesomebits-111025104808-phpapp01]


Mango, Mango! Developing for Windows Phone 7 - TechDays 2011 {app track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:33:58 +0000
Mingfei Joined Singapore DPE team as a Developer Evangelist, responsible for driving excitement of Microsoft technologies to technical audiences in Singapore and worked with customers and partners to help them innovate and build cool stuff. She has many experiences with cloud computing, having showcase such as putting TVB Miss Hong Kong 2011… [more]     [slideshare id=9875603&doc=mstechdays2011-mangomangodevelopingforwindowsphone7-111025105148-phpapp01]


Cloud Computing with the Windows Azure Platform - TechDays 2011 {platform track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:31:35 +0000
Ryan Crawcour is an adventure sports junkie that also has a passion for IT. With over fifteen years’ experience architecting, designing and implementing solutions on the Microsoft platform, he has achieved a solid track record in all things distributed & connected. A large focus for Ryan has been on…[more]     [slideshare id=9780043&doc=mstechdays2011-tothecloudalaparoundtheentirewindowsazureplatform-111019230449-phpapp01]


Cloud Management with System Center App Controller - TechDays 2011 {platform track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:30:50 +0000
 Lai, Virtual Machine MVP has more than 10 years of IT industry experience and is a Technical Consultant for Infront Consulting Group. He specializes in Hyper-V and System Center products. Lai has actively presents at local events and community such as Microsoft Virtualization Day, Microsoft Cloud Day…[more]     [slideshare id=9779938&doc=mstechdays2011-cloudmanagementwithsystemcenterapplicationcontroller-111019225934-phpapp01]


Operation Manager 2012 - New features to Enhance Enterprise Monitoring - TechDays 2011 {infra track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:30:15 +0000
Simon Skinner MVP has been in the computer industry since the early 1990’s. Starting out as a VB programmer where he developed stock control systems for haulage companies. From there he moved into networking gaining a high level of experience and expertise in designing and building web farms for large organizations…[more]   Raymond is the Principal Consultant of Infront Consulting, Singapore and a 5 year Microsoft Most Valuable Professional on System Center Operations Manager. He is regularly engaged to speak at major IT events…[more]     PoeyYong is working as a senior technologist in the NetApp APAC team. PoeyYong expertise is in Information Management & Collaboration business. His work bridges clients, partners, and internal stakeholders to achieve a holistic solutions strategy…[more]   [slideshare id=9744989&doc=mstechdays2011-operationmanager2012newfeaturetoenhanceyourenterprisemonitoring-111018051049-phpapp01]


Self-Service Private Cloud Management through Integrated Processes with Service Manager 2012 - TechDays 2011 {infra track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:29:00 +0000
Maarten Goet is a five-year System Center MVP from The Netherlands. In his day job he helps enterprise customers successfully implement System Center and Hyper-V solutions. Maarten is a well-known speaker at user groups, Microsoft Management Summit, Microsoft TechEd…[more]   Raju Chellam is Cloud Practice Head for Dell’s South Asia and Korea region. He is tasked with helping companies/governments migrate to a private/hybrid cloud computing environment. Raju has 30 years’ experience in ICT industry in Asia. He is currently on the Executive Committee of the Business Continuity Management Group & on the Cloud Committee… [more]     [slideshare id=9745023&doc=mstechdays2011-selfserviceprivatecloudmanagement-111018051321-phpapp02]


Revenue Generator Suite - TechDays 2011 {app track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:28:27 +0000
Niger has more than 20 years’ experience in senior executive roles. He founded and grew 13 companies in various industries including semiconductors, information technology and finance. Niger’s businesses focus mainly on early revenue realization: microprocessor  testing and wafer process & testing… [more]       [slideshare id=9875560&doc=mstechdays2011-generaterevenueonazure-111025104847-phpapp01]


Configuration Manager 2012 Technical Overview - TechDays 2011 {infra track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:26:43 +0000
Wei King is a Systems Management Consultant that specializes in Microsoft’s System Center suite of products. With his many years of experience in the IT industry specifically with Microsoft Technology he now delivers consultancy services as well as trainings… [more]     [slideshare id=9744970&doc=mstechdays2011-configurationmanager2012technicaloverview-111018050901-phpapp01]


Microsoft Exchange Server and Office 365: Hybrid Deployment - TechDays 2011 {platform track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:26:10 +0000
Sanjeev is a Premier Field Engineer with Microsoft Singapore, specializing in Messaging. He has in total 11 years of IT Experience of which 6 years have been spent working in Microsoft as Messaging Specialist. Sanjeev has worked on… [more]     Ram is a Senior consultant with APAC Cloud COE team part of Microsoft Regional Services. He has been with Microsoft services for more than 6 years spent mostly in the Infrastructure space. In the current role as a part of the cloud team he work with partners and customers..[more]     [slideshare id=9780024&doc=mstechdays2011-microsoftexchangeserverandoffice365hybriddeployment-111019230213-phpapp02]


Revealing WebMatrix 2.0 Beta - the Swiss Army Knife of Web Development - TechDays 2011 {app track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:25:12 +0000
Thye Yeow Bok is a Partner Developer Evangelist at Microsoft who is passionate at sharing the latest Microsoft technology with Microsoft independent software vendors as well as startup partners. During his free time, he develops games…[more]     [slideshare id=9875618&doc=mstechdays2011-revealingwebmatrix2-0beta-theswissarmyknifeofwebdevelopment-111025105324-phpapp02]


SCVMM 2012 Building of Private Clouds and Federation to the Public Cloud - TechDays 2011 {infra track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:24:32 +0000
 Lai, Virtual Machine MVP has more than 10 years of IT industry experience and is a Technical Consultant for Infront Consulting Group. He specializes in Hyper-V and System Center products. Lai has actively presents at local events and community such as Microsoft Virtualization Day, Microsoft Cloud Day… [more]     [slideshare id=9745003&doc=mstechdays2011-scvmm2012buildingofprivatecloudsandfederationtothepubliccloud-111018051206-phpapp02]


SCDPM 2012: The New Feature of Data Protection - TechDays 2011 {platform track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:23:50 +0000
 System Center Data Protection Manager MVP Mike Resseler is mainly focused on the entire System Center suite, combined with the MOF and IO framework. He has over 10 years of experience in the IT industry. He is a Senior Technical Consultant for Infront Consulting where he focuses on delivering projects with added value, and… [more]     [slideshare id=9780030&doc=mstechdays2011-scdpm2012thenewfeatureofdataprotection-111019230258-phpapp02]


OData with WCF Web APis: "There's a URI for That" - TechDays 2011 {app track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:23:06 +0000
Based in Singapore, Alvin works as a Solution Architect with a large MNC and is lover of technology. During his sparetime, Alvin is actively involved in running the Singapore .NET User Group. His areas of interests includes…[more]     [slideshare id=9875656&doc=mstechdays2011-wcfwebapistheresauriforthat-111025105610-phpapp02]


Automating your Infrastructure: Microsoft System Center Orchestrator 2012 Technical Overview - TechDays 2011 {infra track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:22:11 +0000
 Kwan is a Microsoft Most Valuable Profesional in System Center Operations Manager and has been working on Systems Management for the past 6 years primarily focusing on System Center technologies & Microsoft Virtualization Technology. He also focus on… [more]     [slideshare id=9745120&doc=mstechdays2011-systemcenterorchestrator-111018051937-phpapp01]


How to Run Middleware in the Cloud? Story of Windows Azure AppFabric - TechDays {platform track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:21:10 +0000
 Hammad Rajjoub works as an Architect Evangelist with Microsoft Singapore. In his previous role he was a Vice President at Bank Of America Merrill Lynch. His areas of interest include Cloud Computing, Enterprise Architecture, Design Patterns… [more]
   
How to Run Middleware in the Cloud? Story of Windows Azure AppFabric [slideshare id=9779972&doc=mstechdays2011-howtorunmiddlewareinthecloudstoryofwindowsazureappfabric-111019230021-phpapp01]


NUI, Gooey and Louie - TechDays 2011 {app track}
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:20:35 +0000
Michael Kordahi is an 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. A tech guy at heart, he lives on the corner of geek and thinker, where often, he rolls his sleeves up and makes stuff. A software industry aficionado… [more]     [slideshare id=9875647&doc=mstechdays2011-nuigooeyandlouie-111025105523-phpapp01]


F5 Optimizations for Microsoft Platform - TechDays 2011
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:19:37 +0000
[slideshare id=9779928&doc=mstechdays2011-virtualizationsolutionstooptimizeperformance-111019225828-phpapp01]


Simplified Infrastructure Solutions - Techdays 2011
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:14:26 +0000
[slideshare id=9780039&doc=mstechdays2011-simplifiedconvergedinfrastructuresolutions-111019230405-phpapp01]


Revenue Generator Suite - TechDays 2011
Thu, 27 Oct 2011 18:45:54 +0000
[slideshare id=9875560&doc=mstechdays2011-generaterevenueonazure-111025104847-phpapp01]


Microsoft CloudFest - 10th of November
Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:26:33 +0000
What does cloud computing got to do with iOS, android or WP7 mobile applications, social networking campaign, digital signage and large interactive touch display panel such as Microsoft Surface?  Imaging the scenario where you launch a marketing campaign and suddenly see a surge of visitors using your application.

Well done mate! oh wait up…..what is it that you say? your server is down and out because it can’t handle the load?…..my heart is with you dude, maybe next time, try cloud computing :)


Download All Available System Center 2012 Products
Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:00:21 +0000
   Good news everyone, you can now download all System Center 2012 Pre-release products from One Single Regsitration. Go to HERE to try out System Center 2012 today! Before you start, make sure you check out the available System Center 2012 technical resources on TechNet. Available System Center 2012 Products:

System Center Configuration Manager 2012 Beta 2 provides comprehensive configuration management for the Microsoft platform that can help you empower users with the devices and applications they need to be productive while maintaining corporate compliance and control. (English) System Requirements >
System Center Operations Manager 2012 Beta provides deep application diagnostics and infrastructure monitoring that can help you ensure the predictable performance and availability of vital applications and offers a comprehensive view of your datacenter, private, and public clouds. (English) System Requirements >
System Center Data Protection Manager 2012 Beta provides unified data protection for Windows servers and clients that can help you deliver scalable, manageable, and cost-effective protection and restore scenarios from disk, tape, and off premise. (English) System Requirements >
System Center Orchestrator 2012 Beta provides orchestration, integration, and automation of IT processes through the creation of runbooks that can help you to define and standardize best practices and improve operational efficiency. (English) System Requirements >
System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 RC provides virtual machine management and services deployment with support for multi-hypervisor environments that can help you deliver a flexible and cost effective private cloud environment. (English) System Requirements >
System Center App Controller 2012 Beta (Coming Soon)
System Center Service Manager 2012 Beta (Coming Soon)



Microsoft TechDays Singapore 2012
Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:48:47 +0000
Register your interest for TechDays Singapore 2012 to get notified and receive super early bird discounts! If you missed this year’s TechDays, check out the awesomeness here. [contact-form-7 id=“6279” title=“Register your interest for Microsoft TechDays Singapore 2012_copy”]


Over 1000 attended Microsoft TechDays Singapore 2011!
Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:20:48 +0000
 Our first Microsoft TechDays Singapore held on 13 October 2011 atrratced more than 1000 delegates! If you missed the event, do check out the highlights.We hope to see you in TechDays Singapore 2012. (you may register your interest here)
TechDays Singapore 2011 highlights
 
Breakout sessions videos
The full schedule can be found here
Track 1: Infrastructure

Self-Service Private Cloud Management through Integrated Processes with Service Manager 2012 Maarten Goet and Raju Chellam (Dell Singapore)
The Future of Infrastructure Monitoring: A Look at Application Monitoring and SCOM 2012 Raymond Chou, Simon Skinner and Wong Poey Yong (NetApp Singapore)
Configuration Manager 2012 Technical Overview Teh Wei King
SCVMM 2012 Building of Private Clouds and Federation to the Public Cloud Lai Yoong Seng
Automating your Infrastructure: Microsoft System Center Orchestrator 2012 Technical Overview Kwan Thean Keong
Virtualization Solutions to Optimize Performance, Improve Availability and Reduce Complexity Michael Quek (F5 Networks)

Track 2: Platform

To The Cloud! A Lap around the Entire Windows Azure Platform Ryan Crawcour
Cloud Management with System Center Application Controller Lai Yoong Seng
Microsoft Exchange Server and Office 365: Hybrid Deployment Sanjeev Thakur and Ram Muthkaruppan
SCDPM 2012: The new feature of data protection Mike Resseler
How to Run Middleware in the Cloud? Story of Windows Azure AppFabric Hammad Rajjoub

Track 3: Application

HTML5: All the Awesome Bits Michael Kordahi
Mango, Mango! Developing for Windows Phone 7 Mingfei Yan
Revealing WebMatrix 2.0 Beta – the Swiss Army Knife of Web Development Thye Yeow Bok
WCF Web APis: “There’s a URI for That” Alvin Lau
NUI, Gooey and Louie Michael Kordahi
Generate Revenue on Azure Niger Tan (aZaaS)

Making your first step to the cloud?
Go Private or go Public? Check out the resources that will take you there. Private cloud resources: http://weshipcode.com/private Public cloud resources: http://weshipcode.com/public


Exam 70-659: Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Virtualization Online Training
Thu, 20 Oct 2011 07:55:27 +0000
If you look to get certified and advance your career with skills in virtualization, here is a good online training that can help you. The December class is more friendly to Singapore timezone. It is on 2nd Decemeber Friday 14:00 - 22:00. Register Now This comes with an Exam Voucher normally valued at $150 and you get free online training.  New Jump Start! Microsoft Server Virtualization – Get Certified! Microsoft Learning is hosting a brand new class in the popular “Jump Start” series. We received rave reviews from the last Microsoft Virtualization Jump Start delivered earlier this year and know this new course will be another smash. Here are the details: • What? “Exam 70-659: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization Jump Start” • When? Wednesday, November 2, 2011 from 8am – 5pm PDT **OR** Thursday, December 1, 2011 from 10pm – 6am PDT • How? Live virtual classroom (online) • How much? $99 (includes an exam voucher valued at $150) Register Now for either the November 2 or December 1 class. Skills Covered:


The newest version of Windows Intune is now available
Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:17:01 +0000
The newest version of Windows Intune is now available. Sign up here for a FREE 30-day trial and test it out on up to 25 PCs! What are the some of the key new features we have added?

Software Distribution: Deploy most Microsoft and third-party updates or applications to PCs nearly anywhere over the Internet to Windows Intune managed PCs.
Remote Tasks: You can now easily and remotely perform the following tasks on Windows Intune managed PCs from the administration console: Full scan, Quick scan, Update Malware Definition, and Restart.
Read-Only Access: You can now can give select administrators read-only access to the administration console so they can view PC information as needed, but not perform any configuration tasks if you choose to.
Enhanced Reporting: You can easily create hardware reports based on new hardware filters for common hardware characteristics. Additionally, you can now create and save report parameters to make it easy and efficient to run a report again in the future.
Alerts & Monitoring: You can now configure alert types to be reported according to a specified threshold, frequency, or percent of computers affected.

Want to learn more about these new features and all the other updates to Windows Intune? Check out the following content:


go Public - Windows Azure
Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:41:18 +0000
The following Singapore companies have already “go Public” onto the cloud with Windows Azure! Click on their company logo to check them out or click on the “Feature Me” button to get yourself added to the list! [flgallery id=2/]  We understand that the first step is often the hardest and most confusing. Questions like “how do I start?”, “where can I get help”, “who is already using it” are some of the burning questions that every beginner have. This is why we put together a couple of resources to help you get started on your journey to the cloud. Hope you will find this page useful, do check back often as we will be actively updating this page moving forward! [SlideDeck id=‘5513’ width=‘660px’ height=‘500px’]


go Private - System Center
Thu, 06 Oct 2011 23:19:19 +0000
 [SlideDeck id=‘5935’ width=‘660px’ height=‘840px’]
IT Camps Slide Decks

IT Camps - Datacenter Virtualization
IT Camps - Private Cloud

Online Resources
Access FREE online training and understand more about Microsoft Cloud technologies at http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com
Download and try out various System Center 2012 products for private cloud through one Single download today!


Counting down to TechDays Singapore 2011
Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:38:39 +0000
TechDays Singapore2011 is getting closer - to be exact its just one week away! The team is working very hard on getting the latest and greatest bits together and install them on our demo machines but most of all looking forward to meet everyone on 13 October! Take this opportunity to explore new ideas from 18 breakout sessions, 22 hands-on-Lab topics and Ask-the-expert sessions we have put together for you. Discover new possibilities, strengthen your knowledge, learn what’s new in System Center 2012, Windows Azure platform and Windows Phone 7.5 and much more. See full schedule here. get your geek on and register HERE if you have not! remember to follow @GoSpiffy on twitter and use #SGTechDays to tweet! [caption id=“attachment_5749” align=“aligncenter” width=“587” caption=“TechDays Singapore 2011”][/caption]


Kinecting the dots - Augmented reality and Kinect Programming
Tue, 04 Oct 2011 05:16:27 +0000
Recently I presented Kinect programming in Geekcamp Singapore 2011. Here is some of the resources related to my Kinect talk. Firstly, I talked about Augmented Reality. It is about putting a virtual layer on top of physical world. Therefore, after computer gets to know about our physical world through all types of sensors, such as camera, GPS, compass, audio, it will be able to provide a virtual information layer on top of the real world. One example could be BMW Z4 campaign. By using a paper logo, you could see 3D Z4 car appear on screen and you can drive around the car using keyboard control. You can check out video below and download this cool toy here. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTUJKvXIkSU[/youtube] And here is another interesting campaign down by Lego that you could view 3D toy model by using a paper logo as well.  Download demo: http://atlantis.lego.com/en-us/augmented/default.aspx  Here is how Kinect works as a much more complicated sensor to help computers understand the real world. Kinect captures image stream, depth stream, audio stream to NUI library, which application could interact with. Here is a simple application I did by using Kinect SDK which you could download here. I used one of the samples presented in Kinect SDK quick starts here: http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/KinectSDKQuickstarts. I think this series of videos really cover all the fundamentals you should know for starting Kinect development. Lastly, I presented two Kinect hacks: - Transform into Ultraman yourself: http://code.google.com/p/kinect-ultra/ [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUG-Uvq-J-w[/youtube] - Kinect with Dragon Ball: http://code.google.com/p/kinect-kamehameha/ [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lajP7HO7ZyE[/youtube] I spent quite long time to configure this. Kinect hack is using open source driver so it will have conflicts with offical Kinect driver. And these comments are very useful for setting up: http://code.google.com/p/kinect-kamehameha/wiki/Comments. Enjoy your Kinect!


Virtualization is not Private Cloud
Mon, 03 Oct 2011 05:49:10 +0000
Recently I was asked few times what is the difference between virtualization and private cloud. There are distinct differences between virtualization and private cloud. They are not the same thing. Virtualization is just the first step towards private cloud. According to NIST defination, a private or public cloud should have following characteristics. These are the fundamental differences between private cloud and virtualization.

On-demand self-service: the ability for a user to obtain computing resources (compute, network, storage) as needed and automatically, without interaction with other people
Broad network access: the computing resources are accessible over the network and using tools widely used as thin clients and thick clients (phones, laptops, desktops, slate)
Resource pooling: the computing resources are pooled together to serve different customers using a multi-tenant model. The different physical and virtual resources are assigned dynamically, based on the needs of users. This allows you to get a sense of independence from the location of resources as the end user does not have an exact idea of ??where you actually reside the resources it uses, but may indicate a high level of preferential locations
Rapid elasticity: the resources can be quickly modified, often automatically, so you can quickly adapt to the waxing and waning of necessity. From an end user’s point of view, this can lead to the feeling of having unlimited resources to buy the necessary amount for the time.
Measured Service: The cloud systems automatically monitor and optimize resources by exploiting the capabilities measure implemented at different levels of abstraction depending on the type of service provided. The use of resources can be controlled, measured and reported enabling the end user and service provider access to information transparently use

Virtualization alone does not achieve these characteristics and does not enable efficiency. Let’s look how these cloud functionalities can be through Microsoft technologies. Base Virtualization Infrastructure The base infrastructure for private cloud is virtualization. One important thing everyone tends to take for granted is Active Directory. Active Directory provides the base for identify and security management. In the base infrastructure, there are


"She loves her white Windows phone! " - Windows Phone 7.5 official launch in Singapore!
Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:53:19 +0000
Sept 28th 2011, Windows Phone 7.5 officially launch in Singapore, with more than 500 new features and enhancements. And I just received update notification on my HTC windows Phone and finished codename MANGO update.  The upgraded features are list below: - Social Network Integration - Facebook, Windows Live, Twitter, LinkedIn - Groups: you could group your closest friends, family, teammates, ping at start screen and starting to received live updates - Chatting: integrated Facebook Chat, MSN Chat. Connecting with your online friends. - IE9!!! - You could scan barcode(only US user), QR code, MS Tags in search to get information. - Amazing windows Live skydrive! Auto-sync for all my documents and back up into the cloud! - Whats my favourite feature? Maybe a girly answer for you: There is a white Windows Phone 7!  Lastly for Singapore, HTC Radar and Samsung OMNIA W will be availble soon in store. Samsung OMNIA W will be priced below $498. It has been a year since the first time I got my Windows phone. And great progress! 


Singapore SQL Server User Group Sept Meetup
Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:27:55 +0000
September User Group Meeting
Speaker profile:
Prakash S Sawant, Microsoft Technology Solution Specialist with ten years of experience in providing database solutions; Prakash is a subject matter expert in SQL Server Migration/ Upgrade and Performance Tuning.
Prakash is also an active member for the development of content and methodology for the SQL Server 2008 R2 Upgrade and Application Compatibility Testing program. He has worked with more then 100+ Lab participants across India, USA, APAC and Middle East to assess Upgrade readiness and provide guidance on Upgrades from SQL Server 2000/2005 to SQL Server 2008. He has also created and delivered trainings for Microsoft’s SQL Server support engineers from various verticals.


WP7 entries to iCreate Mobility Challenge 2011
Mon, 25 Jul 2011 09:25:01 +0000
Last July 19th I had the awesome opportunity to judge for the iCreate Mobility Challenge run by NUS Computer Centre.  They will be showcasing their apps this July 27th (Wed) at the NUS University Hall, Atrium, Level 1, Lee Kong Chian Wing from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.  You are all invited!
Below are recorded videos of their presentations during judging (I got the links from https://ivle.nus.edu.sg/).  It was hard judging these 3 teams simply because all of them are excellent!  See for yourself..


Singapore SQL Server User Group July Meetup
Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:29:03 +0000
Date: July 28th, 2011 Time: 7:00PM – 9:00 PM Registration starts at 6:30 PM Venue: NTUC Building 22CF-12 Microsoft Office One Marina Boulevard
Speaker profile:
Renaud HARDUIN is ESSILOR European IT Singapore Developement Service Manager, in Singapore (ESSILOR ITSS / 38 people / 6 teams). He is in charge of Europe IT Development Team and provides support for various Business Support. Renaud is MVP on SQL/BI since 2005. Michael LABASTIDA is ESSILOR BI Technical Leader & BI Expert In charge of one of the major BI ESSILOR Project in ESSILOR ITSS.


Umbraco on Windows Azure
Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:09:59 +0000
I heard about Umbraco during MIX11 and was recently reminded of it when I was doing my research on CMS for Azure. What I really like was the availability of an Azure accelerator that allows you to setup Umbraco on Azure easily. Well, I’m not too sure if its just me, but the setup process wasn’t really smooth sailing, so I thought it will be helpful to share my experiences and hopefully it will help you guys who encounter similar road blocks. I highly recommend you watch this video from MIX11 to preview the entire setup process. Go on, I’ll be waiting right here when you are done ;) Welcome back, time to start cracking, download the following:


Application Monitoring with AVIcode – Part 2 of 2
Fri, 15 Jul 2011 08:20:45 +0000
Apart from real time monitoring, AVICode also provides intelligent information on each of those alerts. These detailed information can be access by click on each alert and select “Click here for additional Event details”  In the detailed event view, Distributed Chains shows the average total time for each page. This information helps developers to understand which page takes most of the time.  Performance Counters has a timeline view for different metrics which provides more insights to the developer team.  Intelligent report in AVIcode provides Summary Failure Analysis, Summary Performance Analysis, Summary user Analysis. These reports helps to identify quick wins and address application issues that can make big impact. Summary Failure Analysis – It shows the top failures of a particular application. Like below example the top 1 failure is counted for 50% of the failure of the applications. Developer team and infrastructure team may want to address that failure issue immediately and application availability can be improved.  Summary Performance Analysis - Similiarly Summary Performance Analysis shows the top performance issue. As below example address the top 1 issue can address 44% of the application performance issue.  Summary User Analysis – It has details on Security, Connectivity, Performance, and Failure that related to each individual user. It perticularly useful for development team to resolve issues for VIP end users.  


Kinect, Nodejs, and Windows Phone 7 Mango
Thu, 14 Jul 2011 05:25:26 +0000
This is a quick post on a simple project demonstrating how you can pass Kinect sensor values to Windows Phone 7 Mango using nodejs.  This was inspired by this concept video.
(Thanks to Oren for helping me out with me error on the localhost thing in getting node and WP7 to communicate with each other)
Steps
1. Install NITE/PrimeSense as described in this post.  This will ensure that our Kinect setup is working.  This will also have the c++ source code that we will modify later (Don’t worry, no coding required).


Events
Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:03:18 +0000
CONTENTS


Accept the Invitation! (Mango invite for developers)
Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:07:41 +0000

Today, a bunch of SG developers registered in AppHub got their Mango Beta 2 Connect invite so they can update their WP7 devices to Mango.  You can refer to this blog post titled “Developers Get Goody Basket Full of Mangos” from the Windows Phone Developer Blog to find out more about why developers are getting this update.  If you’re too lazy to read, here’s the summary towards the end of that post:


Augmented Reality With Windows Phone 7 - Part III The Dataset
Mon, 04 Jul 2011 05:00:58 +0000
In this post I am going to carry on from where we last left off. For those who did not get to see our earlier posts here is [part 1] and [part 2]. Am going to briefly show you how to retrieve data, specifically from project nimbus, and put it in your app. A pre-requisite for using Project Nimbus would be an account key, which you can get by dropping them an email [projectnimbus@live.com.sg]. If you wish, you may use other datasets for your app as well.


Community {Technology} Update 2011
Mon, 04 Jul 2011 04:16:40 +0000
Thank you for everyone who attended the CTU on 25th June. We have 91 registered and 84 attended the event. A group of passionate MVPs started and lanned this together. I would like to thank them for their time and contribution to the community. A big thank should go to Desmond who played a important leading role in this CTU 2011, below are words from him.
“Community Technology Updates 2011 has been a wonderful event. This is the first time I am taking up the leading role of organizing CTU and it has been fruitful for me. Apart from the usual IT Pro, Dev and Special Track, this CTU we have added in HOL and ChalkTalk sharing session. These sessions aim to share useful industry experiences with attendees and great feedbacks were collected for these sessions. We will try to arrange more of such session in coming CTU if possible. It touches my heart to see attendees leaving at the end of the event with useful information and making new friends friend. These motivations will keep me going forward and push on to organize a better CTU for the community from the community again next time. For those who have missed this CTU, join us for CTU in Dec as we learn, share and make friends in this BIG community!!”


Augmented Reality With Windows Phone 7 – Part II Sensors
Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:10:56 +0000
Sensors
Hey guys, its Shank again. It seems that quite a number of you are were quite enthusiastic about writing your very own AR app after my first post. For those who have not read part one yet, well here’s the link to that post: http://weshipcode.com/developers/wp7arparti/
In this post, we are going to continue from where we last left off. By now, you would have an application that can display the camera stream on your screen. That’s great, but for an AR Application we also need to know the device’s movements and orientation, in order to display the information correctly on the screen. In this post we are going to explore 3 sensors and see how to hook up the data from those sensors to our application.


Events
Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:21:02 +0000
{EVENTREGIS} See in Calendar View


About
Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:20:38 +0000

Who are you guys?
Spiffy.sg is a community of twenty-odd writers in Singapore and abroad who love and are inspired by the technologies that shape our lives. From news in our own backyard, to places as exotic as London, Rwanda and Edinburgh - we showcase the latest innovations and cool crap you need to know from developers, start-ups and IT professionals.
How can I publish my work?
Managed by the DPE team in Microsoft Singapore, we are always looking for writers and contributors. Here are 3 reasons why you should write with us. You’ll be able to attend events, interview exciting local entrepreneurs, and swipe the occasional promotional swag. If you’re interested, send us an email for more information.


Application Monitoring with System Center AVIcode – Part 1 of 2
Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:38:23 +0000
AVIcode delivers market-leading .NET application performance monitoring capabilities to help ensure the availability of business-critical applications and services, regardless of where they are deployed. It is part of System Center Operation Manager (SCOM) and can be installed as a Management Pack. To download the AVIcode management pack, go to HERE. AVIcode really allows the infrastructure team to provide more valuable information to the application engineering team. The process of sending these valuable information can be as easy as right click on the alert in SCOM and select send to engineering team. This is achieved through SCOM TFS connector (Read my post on TFS connector to know more). More importantly, it helps to identify where the real problem is. We don’t have to second guess whether the problem comes from infrastructure or application. AVIcode has capabilities like


Augmented Reality With Windows Phone 7 - Part I Camera
Wed, 29 Jun 2011 05:31:43 +0000
Introduction
Hi guys, I am Shank (Sangar), a Microsoft Student Intern from NTU. I am also a hobbyist Windows Phone 7 developer having developed apps such as ‘NewsSG’ and ‘SG Elections’.
I was recently arrowed tasked by Chris Ismael to explore the Windows Phone Mango SDK and come up with tutorials that would help you guys, build apps that capitalize on the new APIs. (alright, i confess… he was making me do this as he was lazy to learn it by himself)


Community {Technology} Update returns!
Sat, 25 Jun 2011 11:21:08 +0000


The 8th iteration of CTU is back – It’s the time of the year User Group of Singapore come together and put up a full day technical sharing event for the community. Organized by the community for the community, we have sessions that suits IT Professionals, Developers and Database Administrators. We have arranged for you a full day of contents to help get you up to date with the latest technologies in the Microsoft stack. If you are someone who like hands on more than anything, you are welcome to sign up for our Hands-on Lab on the actual day itself! Don’t miss this chance and start registering today! Why you should attend this event:


Having fun with Kinect connected to PC
Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:59:18 +0000
This post will get you up and running apps for Kinect connected to PC using open source libraries.  Mine is running on Windows 7.  We’ll assume that you don’t know what you’re doing, and you couldn’t care less about what libraries you’ll use to run this.  (You can learn that later).  You just want to follow the instructions, run that demo, and start to impress your friends, right?  Obviously you need to have the Kinect sensor device with the power adapter for this.


A Comprehensive Mango Developer Documentation Reference
Wed, 25 May 2011 15:09:58 +0000
We have some good internal folks who gave us permission to post this.  It ought to be shared! Enjoy!
Highlights | What’s New | Code Samples | Walkthroughs | Features


RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS
More Code Samples – There are 22 new code samples covering a majority of the platform features in Mango. These code samples are snackable solutions that allow you to hit F5 and go! Most of the samples are also accompanied by a walkthrough so that you can see how it was specifically built and how to extend it for your own apps and games.


Tech·Ed North America 2011 Contents Available Online Now
Sat, 21 May 2011 04:07:50 +0000
Tech·Ed North America 2011 just happened this week. If you attended the event, please share with us your experience. For many of us who cannot go, the contents are available online now. Go to HERE to see all the videos available. Make sure you watch the Keynote as Corporate Vice President,Server and Tools Marketing,Robert Wahbe and Corporate Vice President,Visual Studio,Jason Zander showcase a broad array of technology There is a wide swath of topics for IT professionals especially on Private Cloud and System Center 2012. Below list only covers some of them (view full list on System Center here). To try out System Center 2012, join the Community Evaluation Program today!


Cloud Ninja - Multi-Tenancy Azure Application
Fri, 13 May 2011 03:35:10 +0000
The guys from Microsoft Redmond put together a code project that illustrate how to build multi-tenancy Azure applications.
Below is an abstract of the project,
“The Cloud Ninja Project is a Windows Azure multi-tenant sample application demonstrating metering and automated scaling concepts, as well as some common multi-tenant features such as automated provisioning and federated identity. This sample was developed by the Azure Incubation Team in the Developer & Platform Evangelism group at Microsoft in collaboration with Full Scale 180. One of the primary goals throughout the project was to keep the code simple and easy to follow, making it easy for anyone looking through the application to follow the logic without having to spend a great deal of time trying to determine what’s being called or have to install and debug to understand the logic.”


Microsoft Cloud Day on April 27th 2011
Fri, 06 May 2011 05:27:58 +0000
Microsoft Cloud Day was held on April 27th 2011 with 170 attendees representing 130 companies. It was a full day event with the aim of updating our community on Windows Azure Platform. We had extensively covered a mix of business and technical contents, from introducing the importance of cloud computing to deploying and monitoring Windows Azure application on the cloud.

Highlights of the event includes the participation of Windows Azure AppFabric product team sharing the roadmap which was beneficial to our customers. We had excellent speakers from our SI Partner aZaaS, NCS and we also invited our customer Yolk for showcasing its Azure solution. All training partner booths (aZaaS, NCS and NetAsset) showcasing MS learning and cloud courses were well received.


SWUG Meetup on May 11th
Wed, 04 May 2011 06:27:52 +0000
It’s Time For CTU 2011!! It is time of the year again that we hold CTU for our local community. CTU 2011 is set to be on 25th Jun 2011 (Sat). It will be a full day event covering 3 track, IT Pro, Developer and Special Track. Early bird registration is set at $12/pax and onsite registration at $20/pax. Interesting topic have been planned for the community. Attendees can expect to walk away with valuable and latest information on the new technology in the market. Do join us in May meet up as Desmond share with you more detail for this upcoming CTU. Meanwhile, mark down on your calendar and you won’t want to miss this valuable yet interesting event. More detail will reach you in a separate email, so do keep a look out for that. May Meet Up Agenda Date: 11th May2011 (Wednesday) Time: 7.00pm to 9.30pm Venue: 1 Marina Boulevard #21-00,MS Singapore–Level 21 Auditorium 6.30pm: Registration 7.00pm: Session 1 – System Center Management Suite 8.15pm: Break 8.30pm: Session 2 – System Center Configuration Manger 9.30pm: Home Sweet Home Session 1 & 2 – System Center Night (Sainath) Abstract: System Center Management Suite is a solution for Mid-Size and Enterprise Organizations which provide end-end management of both Physical and Virtual Infrastructures. You will learn the different products embedded into one management suite along with their features which include SCOM 2007 R2, SCVMM 2008 , SCCM 2007 R2 , SCDPM 2007. In the second session we concentrate on one of the best products of System Center Suite, System Center Configuration Manager. We will discover in detail about the abilities which SCCM would bring in for the administrators and the features it provides. We also make quick comparison between Microsoft and IBM BigFix product. Registration For registration, please email to admin@sgwindowsgroup.org the following: - SWUG ID - Name - Email Address Note: There won’t be an event confirmation. Just turn up, we don’t turn people away. However, please register if you’re coming.


Startup Weekend Singapore 2 the Weekend After
Tue, 03 May 2011 06:32:18 +0000

Startup Weekend recruits a highly motivated group of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more to a 54 hour event that builds communities, companies and projects.
Startup Weekend Singapore 2 happened this weekend, from April 29 to May 1. This time we had over 40 participants spending the whole weekend building their startups, networking and having fun.
The weekend started Friday night, with Joey from Startup Weekend and Meng Wong opening the night to get everyone warm and fuzzy, breaking the ice and getting their creative juices flowing. Six teams were formed and started hacking away to get their ideas up and running for the final presentation on Sunday night.


Startup Weekend Singapore 2
Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:21:27 +0000

Startup Weekend is back. After last years’ success, Startup Weekend is back in Singapore. This time we will be joined by Joey Pomerenke from Startup Weekend to facilitate the event. We’ll also be joined by some awesome mentors from Singapore. Register here


Microsoft Virtualization for VMWare Professionals HD Videos Released
Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:50:44 +0000
Yes. It is absolutely FREE. 15 hours of HD-quality videos from the “Microsoft Virtualization for VMware Professionals” Jump Start course are now available for free on TechNet Edge for IT Pros. Additionally,every module will be made available with assessment questions on the Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA) later this month. The 15-hour course is broken into three sections: (1) Platform, (2) Management, and (3) VDI “Team-teaching” approach led by Microsoft partner and virtualization architect, Corey Hynes,and Microsoft Technical Evangelist**, Symon Perriman.** Every module is an engaging discussion, packed with best practices and real-world demonstrations Over 2,300 people joined the three-day course in U.S., 86% said the course improved their perception of Microsoft’s approach to virtualization


Visual Studio + .NET event: Links to slides & resources
Thu, 28 Apr 2011 06:22:26 +0000
Thank you to everyone who attended the Visual Studio & .NET sharing event on 13th Aprl 2011, apologies for the long delay in getting this post up…had been away for business travel. Hope you found the content presented useful. Below are the links to the slides presented and some other information.
.NET 4 Demystified - Sandeep Joshi
View more presentations from Microsoft Innovation Centre Singapore
ASP.NET Overview - Alvin Lau


Microsoft Cloud Day is here!
Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:20:03 +0000

Deep dive into the world of Cloud Computing with Microsoft as we bring you across a series of topics ranging from Web Applications on Cloud, Implementation & Security as well as Cloud Computing Architecture. Seize this golden opportunity to speak to Alex Chan, one of the leading minds in Cloud Computing, and let him shed some light on your burning questions about the Cloud. ****Alex Chan joined Microsoft in 2005 to help establish the Server and Tools Business (STB) in China. He currently serves as the Product Unit Manager of the AppFabric Developer Experience (ADX) team based out of Shanghai, responsible for global product development and local customer and partner engagement in the region.****Come and find out for yourself the power of Cloud Computing. Click here to view the full agenda with session abstract.


Microsoft Cloud Day streaming at UStream now!
Wed, 27 Apr 2011 02:52:32 +0000
http://bit.ly/StreamCloudDay
Online TV Shows by Ustream


Windows Azure MIX11 Updates
Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:40:27 +0000
Just in case you haven’t gone through the updates for Windows Azure announced at MIX 11, below is a summary of the new services and functionalities that will be available / is currently available for Azure.
New Services and Functionality


An update to the Windows Azure SDK that includes a Web Deployment Tool to simplify the migration, management and deployment of IIS Web servers, Web applications and Web sites. This new tool integrates with Visual Studio 2010 and the Web Platform Installer. This update will ship later today.


Understanding Windows Azure AppFabric Access Control Service
Sun, 24 Apr 2011 06:03:27 +0000
There are tons of technical resources out there detailing how to implement/code ACS, which I will share at the end of this post.  So I’m not going to go through those.  The goal here is to give you an understanding of what ACS is on a high level and why you might need it when securing a part of your site.  It is for those who may have heard of ACS before but not entirely sure what it is and what it’s for.  Also we have an upcoming Cloud Day event so it’s just appropriate that we post this  


Microsoft MIX11 - Native HTML5 experience with IE9
Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:29:30 +0000
 I attended Microsoft Conference MIX11 last week. MIX is a Microsoft hosted conference that talking about the Next Web with developers and designers in the community. Major announcement of MIX11 was around IE9’s native support to HTML5 and Windows Phone 7 Mango Update. It was a super fun conference for geeks!


There were a few very interesting websites using HTML5 could be browsed by IE9 natively. What do we mean by “Native Experience” here? You no longer need to install plugins to make it work, rather the website handles it for you. Now, consumers have all kind of devices in hand. Without a standard, developers have to code applications against different device which will cost a lot of time. And that’s why we have HTML5 this next web standard,which deliver superior performance through Web-connected devices, play an increasingly important role. I will put up some samples site below and you may want to try it out with IE9.


HTML5 WebSockets
Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:16:54 +0000
WebSockets is a technology designed to simplify much of the complexity around bi-directional, full-duplex communications channels, over a single Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) socket. It can be implemented in web browsers, web servers as well as used by any client or server application. The WebSockets API is currently being standardized by the W3C Web Applications Working Group and the protocol is being standardized by IETF Hypertext Bidirectional (HyBi) Working Group.
Below is an example from http://html5labs.com/  (sorry for the iframe )


Singapore SQL Server User Group April Meetup
Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:14:09 +0000
Date: April  28th, 2011 Time: 7:00PM – 9:00 PM Registration starts at 6:30 PM Venue: NTUC Building 22CF-12 Microsoft Office One Marina Boulevard
Speaker profile:
Renaud HARDUIN is ESSILOR European IT Singapore Developement Service Manager, in Singapore (ESSILOR ITSS / 38 people / 6 teams). He is in charge of Europe IT Development Team and provides support for various Business Support. Renaud is MVP on SQL/BI since 2005. Michael LABASTIDA is ESSILOR BI Technical Leader & BI Expert In charge of one of the major BI ESSILOR Project in ESSILOR ITSS. Alvin Lau is your average Joe in the application space and is a large advocate of .NET technologies since 2005. In his spare time, he runs SGDOTNET, a Singapore-based .NET user group, and loves to share his experience and knowledge. His area of interests includes ASP.Net, Agile development, SharePoint and Microsoft BI.


Free WP7 AppHub tokens (for Singapore-based developers only)
Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:47:17 +0000
For WP7 developers, registering for an AppHub account lets you submit your application to Marketplace, as well as unlock your device for development.  There is a $99US fee when you register.  In Step 4 of registering in AppHub, the Payment page looks like this..

You’ll notice that there is a “Redeem Code” option.  If you want to receive a code/token, you can email me (chism@microsoft.com) the following details (with Subject: “I want a WP7 token”) so I can confirm that you are planning to build a WP7 app, and that you are based in Singapore:


Sign up for Office 365 Beta
Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:05:51 +0000
The Office 365 Beta is now open to the public. Office 365 provides a cloud-based subscription service that includes Office 2010 Professional Plus, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync Online.
For developers and ISVs, Office 365 offers a platform for building cloud-based collaboration and communication solutions for the cloud. To get you guys up to speed, check out these training materials

Office 365 Training Course for Public Beta. 
online training course and offline training kit from MSDN

The Office 365 Developer Training Kit includes


MTUG Meetup for Apr 2011
Wed, 20 Apr 2011 04:20:40 +0000
Date: 27th Apr 2011 Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00PM  Venue: Microsoft Singapore (Conference Room SINOMB 22CF-12)  7:00 PM to 7:15PM - Registration  7:20 PM to 8:15PM – How Headsets Enhance Productivity in the Unified Communications(Plantronics)  8:15 PM to 8:30PM - Break  8:30 PM to 9:30 PM – Considerations for Outsourcing your Organization’s Email by Alvin Ng  About Alvin Ng: Alvin is a Messaging operations manager for a local organization. He has more than 10 years of messaging experience. He currently supports the MessagingTalk User Goup as webmaster of Messagingtalk.org.  Highlight of the event: There will be a Lucky draw at the end of the event. The prize is “Plantronics Voyager PRO UC” by Plantronics.  Registration For registration, please email to tristonwan@messagingtalk.org with the following:


Special invitation for experienced VMWare IT Pro
Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:22:09 +0000
Attain training on Microsoft Server Virtualization and Management technologies today!
Course Date: 18-20 April 2011****Venue: NetAssist Services Pte Ltd298 Tiong Bahru Road #08-02/03 Central Plaza Singapore 168730
About this Course This 400-level, three-day, instructor-led course provides students with the in-depth knowledge and skills needed to design a complex data center architecture using Microsoft virtualization and management technologies, including Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 with Hyper-V and the System Center Suite. This complimentary workshop is extended only to invited clients. Limited to two seats per organization. Please send replacement if the registered attendee cannot attend else a “No Show” fee of S$600 per seat will apply. Approval of your registration is subject to providing proof of VMware certification or years of experience in current or prior employment.   Audience This course is intended for IT architects with extensive VMware experience who have the responsibility for designing and deploying virtualization data centers based on Microsoft technology with potential VMware integration. At Course Completion After completing this course, students will be able to:


Innovative Singapore now has an IE9 Jump List!
Mon, 18 Apr 2011 08:34:26 +0000
If you have been following MIX 11, there is alot of buzz about the native experience which Internet Explorer 9 / Windows 7 integration can deliver for web applications. One of these features is the jump list for pinned web application and we are glad to announce that Innovative Singapore is now “jump list enabled”!
If you are using IE9 and Windows 7, try pinning the site by dragging it to your Windows Taskbar. Once pinned, right click on the icon and you will be presented with the jump list which presents you with a one-click access to the various sections in Innovative Singapore.


Windows Phone Demo highlights at MIX11
Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:27:07 +0000
Want to breeze through the new Mango features for WP7 in just 15 minutes?  Go through all of them in this Channel 9 interview with Joe Belfiore.  You won’t regret clicking.
http://bit.ly/i9FIBl



MIX11 Day 2 Keynote–Windows Phone 7 (Mango), Silverlight, Kinect!
Thu, 14 Apr 2011 08:30:09 +0000
Wow tons of announcements and cool demos here at MIX11 this morning!  Too many to list here, so I’ll just point you to the video and provide you the timeline and conveniently skip to the section you’re interested in 
http://live.visitmix.com/Keynotes

You can also read the Press Release here.
Windows Phone Announcements!

WP7 will add 16 new languages, extend to +8 more countries where developers can submit their apps, and +18 more countries where users can purchase apps.  Nokia’s value and commitment to the WP7 ecosystem was also re-emphasized

     11:18 – 18:48


.NET + Visual Studio 2010: Did you know...
Wed, 13 Apr 2011 11:21:09 +0000
 We sincerely invite you to an afternoon of interesting learning with Visual Studio 2010 and .NET framework. See how .NET has evolved over the years and how Visual Studio meets all your development needs… To register for this event email Helen at [MSmarketing@swap.com.sg](mailto:MSmarketing@swap.com.sg?subject=RSVP to VS2010 and .NET event &body=Please complete the following fields:- %0A%0AName: %0AJob Title: %0APhone: %0AMobile: %0AEmail Address: %0ACompany Name: %0A%0AThank you.%0AHelen %0APhone: +65 6227 7445) or call for more information at +65 6227 7445.   Date 13th April 2011 (Wednesday) Time 1:30pm to 6:00pm (Registration starts at 1.30pm) Venue Level 21, Auditorium, NTUC Centre, One Marina Boulevard, Microsoft Singapore Who Should Attend TDM, IT Manager, Project Manager, Application Manager, Architect, Development Team Leader, Developer, Programmer, Test & Quality Manager Agenda:


MIX11 Day 1 Keynote
Tue, 12 Apr 2011 22:13:05 +0000

There have been a bunch of cool announcements here at MIX11.  And since I only have half an hour before the next dev session, I’ll make this quick!
Announcement/Demos
Why you should care
HTML5 Native to Windows
•http://foursquareplayground.com
•http://worldsbiggestpacman.com
•http://jsdo.it/event/svggirl/
•http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/mix/videogallery.aspx?contentID=mix11_demo_ie10
Microsoft is showing its commitment to HTML5. IE9 is paving the way for these innovative web applications, mostly highlighting performance.
You can run these HTML5 demos now in IE9 and other HTML5 compliant browsers.


A second look at Jump Lists
Tue, 12 Apr 2011 06:20:07 +0000
I have to admit that when it comes to IE9, I am not as updated as I should be in terms of features.  Although we know certain features exist, sometimes you just have try and experiment with them to remember.  (In this case, a feature that already existed in IE8).
I’m glad I got the chance to attend a whole day pre-MIX event here in MIX11 touching on topics about HTML5 and IE9. The event was mostly about HTML5 really, but I learned a lot about IE9 as well.  So I got to re-visit IE features, and probably spent a bit more time thinking about Jump Lists and what else can be done.


Buy Visual Studio 2010 & Get Professional Certification Exam Vouchers* free!!
Fri, 08 Apr 2011 01:50:13 +0000
If you are a software developer, architect or project manager thinking about doing development on the Microsoft technology stack, Visual Studio 2010 is the way to go, while Microsoft Certifications help you gain relevant skills that can lead to a fulfilling career and also provide employers with validation of your skills. You can learn more about Microsoft certifications here. Here is an offer that packages the two together. We are pleased to share with you an exciting new offer on the purchase of Visual Studio 2010 SKUs, which you wouldn’t want to miss -  Buy Now!!

If you wish to buy now and take up the offer, please email our team at msmarketing@swap.com.sg or contact at +65-6227 7445. In the email, please include the following details: Name: Job Title: Phone: Mobile: Email Address: Company Name: Indicate this in the subject line: ’Visual Studio 2010 Certification Offer’. Terms & Conditions of this offer: 1. This offer is valid from 11th April 2011 to 1st July 2011. 2. Offer is open to both existing and new customers. Existing customers could be on Open, Select or Enterprise Agreement licensing programs. 3. Offer is only valid in Singapore and for purchases made locally through local resellers. 4. This offer is on a first-come first-served basis and while our stock of vouchers lasts. 5. It will take 4-5 weeks for processing and delivery of the certification vouchers to you. 6. Purchases under this promotion are not returnable and not exchangeable. 7. Fraudulent submission of claims and/or providing false information disqualifies a customer from getting any certification vouchers. 8. Microsoft reserves the rights to reject any claims. 9. Redemption of the vouchers will be made through our agency SWAP. They can be contacted at msmarketing@swap.com.sg. 10. Microsoft reserves the right to terminate the offer and/or amend the Terms & Conditions at any time without prior notice and without any liability to anyone. *Microsoft Professional Certification exam voucher: Terms and Conditions • One voucher code can be applied toward any 070 series exam, delivered at an authorized Prometric testing center. • Vouchers are program-specific and, in some cases, exam-specific. Please ensure that you redeem the voucher for the correct exam. • Expired, stolen, or lost vouchers will not be replaced. • Vouchers cannot be redeemed for cash or credit, and they cannot be combined with any other offer. • Vouchers are nontransferable and are void if altered in any way. • This offer applies to select Microsoft Certification exams; namely, exams that have a 70 prefix and Microsoft Dynamics exams. • Vouchers are not returnable or refundable. Your vouchers have an expiration date, also referred to as an Order End Date. They must be redeemed and the exam must be taken prior to this date or they will become invalid. Expiration date is 31st May 2012. Once a voucher has expired, it cannot be extended or reinstated. -Pratibha Kumar  Product Marketing Manager, Developer Tools


TechNet Subscription Professional Promotion
Thu, 07 Apr 2011 06:54:54 +0000
 From 1 April to 30 June 2011 purchase a new TechNet Subscription Professional and receive an additional 3 months of service FREE! Microsoft® TechNet Subscriptions is a subscription program that provides premium technical resources to help IT Professionals efficiently evaluate, test, and troubleshoot. IT Professionals can access full-version software for evaluating and supporting both Enterprise and Desktop environments. Check out the full benefits at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-sg/subscriptions/bb892759(en-us).aspx Just click here and use promotion code: TN3M11.


Windows Phone 7 Application Development Support
Wed, 06 Apr 2011 04:24:55 +0000
Hi there.  A lot of developers are asking me what support they can get from Microsoft when developing their applications for Windows Phone 7 (There are now close to 200 apps/games developed from Singapore).  I hope the following table helps!
You Are A…
Support
Contact/Link
Student
Free AppHub ($99US) registration through DreamSpark
[http://bit.ly/fSGL4i](http://bit.ly/fSGL4i    “http://bit.ly/fSGL4i “)
Startup
Free AppHub ($99US) registration through BizSpark
http://bit.ly/dHFOfI
Startup/Company looking for funding to hire a WP7 developer


Students - We want YOU!
Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:47:40 +0000
 Hi Students! Hope this blog post finds you well and ready for your exams! Have you planned what are you going to do this summer? How about joining the Microsoft Innovation Centre (Singapore) this summer for a great learning opportunity. Job Description Microsoft Innovation Center is seeking Software Developer Interns to join the team. The position is a 3-month period internship. You will be working on cutting edge technologies, building proof-of-concepts and pilot projects. Dive into state-of-the-art technology, bring forth innovations and showcase solutions to customers and partners! Job Requirements


The Windows Azure Table - IKEA analogy
Sun, 03 Apr 2011 15:10:23 +0000
A few days ago I gave an overview presentation of Windows Azure to some BizSpark startups.  One of the questions that I got asked often during and after the presentation was why they would bother with a Windows Azure Table when there’s a SQL Azure available. 
I admit that after the presentation I felt that I have not explained this quite well too.  Unfortunately, I don’t think it can be explained in one shot, but rather as series of explanations that eventually build up to one “Aha” moment.  So I hope this post will provide helpful information in understanding the existence of Azure Tables and why it’s cheap.  In a later post, we will touch on some uses for Azure Tables.


Imagine Cup Semi-Finals Result (Complete Result)
Sat, 02 Apr 2011 09:35:55 +0000
The Semi-Finals Result for Imagine Cup 2011. Teams listed below will move to the finals held on 10th May, 2011 at the NTUC Auditorium in Microsoft Office. Congrats to the team! 1. Bliss-zard (Nanyang Polytechnic) 2. Eldergardian (Temasek Polytechnic) 3. The Strides Analysts II (Nanyang Polytechnic) 4. Credit Mobile (National University of Singapore)


Post Event - BizSpark Startup Night - March 29, 2011
Wed, 30 Mar 2011 06:04:15 +0000

Thanks for all who came last night for the BizSpark Startup Night. There was a good mix of people present who wanted to learn more about Microsoft’s Cloud Computing platform and how it’ll benefit their business.
BizSpark Startup Night Windows Azure March 29, 2011
For those who wants to try out Azure, the fastest way would be to use the codes here https://www.weshipcode.com/2011/03/free-admission-to-windows-azure/ If you are a member of BizSpark you’ll get more hours free to beta test your application. Again, if you need any help with Azure we’re here to provide you the support that BizSpark provides. Make sure to comment if you have any feedback or anything you think we can do better. We’ll see you in May for the next BizSpark Startup Night! Further reading on Windows Azure to get you beyond the session. - http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ssma/archive/2011/03/23/migrating-from-mysql-to-sql-azure-using-ssma.aspx - http://silverlightuk.blogspot.com/2008/11/azure-tables-entities-and-partition.html - http://www.intertech.com/Blog/post/Windows-Azure-Table-Storage-vs-Windows-SQL-Azure.aspx - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/gg309178.aspx - http://mscerts.net/windows/windows%20azure%20storage%20%20%20queue%20scenarios.aspx - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg671911.aspx


Microsoft Virtual Academy
Wed, 30 Mar 2011 02:58:58 +0000
Why join, other than it being free? The Microsoft Virtual Academy helps you to improve your IT skill set and advance your career with a free, easy to access training portal that allows you to learn at your own pace, focusing on Microsoft technologies. What do I get for signing up? Free training to make you become the Cloud-Hero in your Organization Help mastering your custom Training Path and get the recognition Connect with other IT Pros and discuss The Cloud Where do I sign up? http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com


BizSpark Startup Night - March 29, 2011
Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:20:08 +0000

Back by popular demand, we’re having our first BizSpark Startup Night for 2011 this time focusing on Cloud Computing. There have been so many misconceptions about the cloud and it’s different forms. Our goal is to give you a practical view point on what Microsoft’s cloud is, it’s components and how you can take advantage of it. Our speaker is Chris Ismael, Developer Evangelist, Microsoft Singapore. This session will give you a technical foundation in understanding how your applications behave in Windows Azure, as well as how your application can interact from inside and outside the platform. The session is targeted towards developers who are curious to find out whether Windows Azure (or the “cloud” in general) is a platform they can benefit from. It will touch on topics such as configuring, packaging, and deploying .NET and CGI-based apps for the cloud, managing your apps, and your storage options. Who: Open to all entrepreneurs, developers, business owner looking to connect Where: Microsoft Office 21st Floor Auditorium When: March 29, 2011 Tuesday 630 - 900 PM *light refreshments will be served Add a +1 on our comments and I’ll count you in. See you there!


SharePoint 2010 Administration HOL
Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:00:12 +0000
SharePoint is popular and widespread today. To help you understand how to deploy, configure and manager SharePoint 2010, we are having two SharePoint 2010 Administration Hands-on labs.  It is completely free and only 21 seats per session. Register today to secure a seat! Registration link: 7th April: https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032481003&Culture=en-SG 21st April: https://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032481010&Culture=en-SG Location: Avantus Training Pte Ltd, 79 Robinson Road CPF Building Agenda: Deploy SharePoint 2010

Understanding Server Roles
Software Requirements
The install process

Configure SharePoint 2010


Free admission to Windows Azure - Limited to 1st 200.
Wed, 23 Mar 2011 10:20:25 +0000

There’s something about cloud computing, it is all around us. In fact most of what we do day in and day out is only possible because of cloud computing. It has open up many new opportunities to developers with on-demand compute and storage to host, scale and manages web applications on the internet. The Windows Azure platform was made with developers in mind and seeks for ways to make it easy to get started. Here’s an opportunity for developers who have not experience what it’s like to build and deploy applications on the Windows Azure platform. First 200 to Sign-up now  will get free access to the following Windows Azure platform resources;


Top five tips from Internet Explorer 9
Mon, 21 Mar 2011 05:08:41 +0000
To mark the global launch of Microsoft’s latest browser, Internet Explorer 9 (IE9) poll was conducted across Asia Pacific and Europe. Result shows Asian women tend to put web browsing safety first while the men chose speed above everything else. Asians are more likely to take risks online compared to their European counterparts and majority of them want to watch online movies in high definitions – speed is imperative to pave way for future content. With these fresh insights on web surfing habits in Asia, IE9 has placed speed as the key proposition. In fact, IE9 is 11 times faster than its predecessor, IE8. An online martial arts game (http://www.masterofthewebgame.com) has been specially designed by Asian firm, The Upper Storey, allowing users to experience first-hand the remarkable speed and performance of IE9.


New 4th & Mayor trashes Official Foursquare App on Windows Phone 7
Mon, 21 Mar 2011 03:39:56 +0000
I just downloaded 4th & Mayor this new Windows Phone 7 application. As a fan of Foursquare, I am very happy to see this great application.
It supports the following features:

Check-in to places
Comment on check-ins 
Supports new “explore” features
Create and view photos at places
Create and view photos within tips
New, fun leaderboard experiences
Fun, fast, responsive




Windows Phone 7 with MVVM, Isolated Storage and Cloud access – Part II
Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:50:34 +0000
This is a continuous example from Part I tutorials. If you want to skip Part 1, you could download the project here. And if you want source code and code snippet for the whole project, you could download it here. -          How to pass data between pages – isolated storage -          How to use CameraTask in your application In Part 2, I will introduce two things: Isolated storage and Camera Task. Before started, I want to introduce why. If you want to pass data from one page to the other, you have to store data somewhere since its stateless between pages. And you could use Isolated Storage. What’s Isolated Storage? Very simple.  It is just storage inside your phone but “Isolated” to only your phone. If you lost your phone, you lost data inside your isolated storage in your phone. 1.You could open app.xaml and add in the following code. App.xaml is a file running before running Mainpage.xaml. [cc lang=‘c’] //IsolatedStroage Manager public static class IsolatedStorageCacheManager { //Store information into file public static void Store(string filename, T obj) { //create filestream for writing into Isolated Stroage IsolatedStorageFile appStore = IsolatedStorageFile.GetUserStoreForApplication(); using (IsolatedStorageFileStream fileStream = appStore.OpenFile(filename, FileMode.Create)) { //Use DataContractSerializer to serialize data and write to the filestream DataContractSerializer serializer = new DataContractSerializer(typeof(T)); serializer.WriteObject(fileStream, obj); } } //Method for retriving object from file in Isolated Stroage public static T Retrieve(string filename) { T obj = default(T); IsolatedStorageFile appStore = IsolatedStorageFile.GetUserStoreForApplication(); //Open file if filename exists in Isolated Stroage if (appStore.FileExists(filename)) { using (IsolatedStorageFileStream fileStream = appStore.OpenFile(filename, FileMode.Open)) { //Use Serializer to read filestream and retrieve object DataContractSerializer serializer = new DataContractSerializer(typeof(T)); obj = (T)serializer.ReadObject(fileStream); } } return obj; } } [/cc] 2. Methods in App.xaml could be used directly by other file in the project. You could just type “App.” to access all the method inside.  We need to serialize data object into a file format that could be stored. There are mainly two ways to do that. Firstly, you could use Build-in DataContractSerialize. It will serialize object based on [DataContract] and [DataMember] these two attributes. The second method is using Linq to XML API from System.XML.Linq namespace.  High level speaking. This IsolatedStroageCacheManager has two methods. One is to store your object into file on Isolated storage. And the other method is to retrieve object from file in Isolated Stroage, with a particular filename you used to save the object. 3. We need to add a reference into the project. Right click on References folder in your project file explorer. Choose System.Xml.Serialization.


Windows Phone 7 with MVVM, Isolated Storage and Cloud access - Part I
Sun, 20 Mar 2011 14:00:10 +0000
This is an End-to-End example for building Windows Phone 7 from Start to finish. And I will cover several features inside this example. I put this technical blog into three pages , so it is easier for you to follow up. You could download the code here, with code snippet. The second part of the tutorial is at https://www.weshipcode.com/2011/03/windows-phone-7-2/. You could follow my twitter: @mingfeiy for my windows phone development news.
Part 1:


My wife creates her first WP7 app!
Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:00:27 +0000
I’ve been promising my wife that I’d build her a WP7 app that pulls feeds from her favorite fashion sites, but have never gotten around to doing it.  So when this app creator popped up, I jumped on the opportunity… to tell her that she can now create her own app! 
So after dinner, I asked her to browse to http://followmyfeed.net/ so we can start building.  Here’s a transcript of what happened:


wp7dev: Using WebBrowser as an alternative to overcome multi-line TextBlock size limitation
Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:31:07 +0000
*UPDATED: Generated html using NavigateToString instead of hosting on server. Actually I could’ve just generated everything in HTML instead using that*
Those of you who have been playing with the TextBlock control on WP7 and requiring tons of text to be written out are probably familiar with the limitation where your text is truncated beyond 2048x2048 pixels. 
There’s this cool solution where this dude created a custom Scrollable TextBlock for WP7 that addresses this by calculating the number of lines you have to display and automatically generating several TextBlocks in a StackPanel. However during my testing, this implementation consumes too much memory (90MB at one instance on the phone emulator).  My scenario calls for displaying the underlying source code of a web page on my app on WP7.  As you can imagine, there could be tons of javascript functions and css declarations under the hood. 


SG SQL User Group - SQL Server Technology update and security with Il-Sung Lee
Mon, 14 Mar 2011 06:08:06 +0000
Topic: SQL Server Technology update & roadmap – focus on TDE, integration with SAP, SQL Server Audit, security best practices & resources A deeper look at SQL Server Security – investments, developments, benchmarks, performances where possible. Date:     March 18th, 2011 Time:     7:00PM – 9:00 PM Registration starts at 6:30 PM Venue: NTUC Building 22CF-12 Microsoft Office One Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018989  Please confirm your attendance by sending email to SGSQL@LIVE.COM  Speaker profile:  Il-Sung Lee, Senior Program Manager, SQL Server Engine Security, Microsoft Corp. Il-Sung Lee is a Senior Program Manager for the Engine team in the SQL Server product group and is the PM owner for SQL Server Engine Security component. Il-Sung has over thirteen years of experience in the database industry as a developer and a program manager focusing on database security and database communications. His current focus is to advance the capabilities of SQL Server in areas such as authentication, authorization, cryptography, audit, and data leak prevention. He is a regular presenter at TechEd and SQLPASS and has spoken at numerous other domestic and international conferences over the past several years. Il-Sung graduated with an M.Eng degree from McGill University and subsequently worked for several years at IBM in their Information Management group prior to joining Microsoft, initially with the SQL Server Protocols team before moving to the Core Security Infrastructure area. We welcome for any feedback to improve interaction and activity in our user group. We are looking for a brave speaker too! If you have anything to share, something interesting from your daily jobs, please share and present for us. Send your thought to SGSQL@LIVE.COM.  If you have changed to another role or not around in Singapore anymore and want to be removed from our list, please email us at SGSQL@LIVE.COM.  Thank you and have a nice day ahead!


Singapore Windows UG (SWUG) Meet Up on March 22nd
Sun, 13 Mar 2011 05:40:30 +0000
Date: 22nd March 2011 (Tuesday) Time: 7.00pm to 9.30pm Venue: 1 Marina Boulevard #21-00,MS Singapore – Auditorium
6.30pm: Registration 7.00pm: Session 1 – Introduction to Windows PowerShell 8.15pm:  Break 8.30pm: Session 2 – Introduction to Windows Intune 9.30pm: Home Sweet Home Session 1 – Introduction to Windows Power Shell (June Blender) Abstract: Windows PowerShell is a powerful weapon which all IT Pros should be equipped with. It combines the interactivity of KSH or BASH, the programmability of Perl or Ruby, and the production-orientation of AS400 CL or VMS DCL. Whether you’re solving the problem at hand or scripting, standardizing, and automating your IT processes, Windows PowerShell can help. Join us for this informal, interactive session. It’s filled with demos so don’t expect too many slides from us, and you should be able to pick up some knowledge that is going to be useful in your work. A little about the speaker: June Blender, Senior Programming Writer for the Windows PowerShell Core Engineering Team, writes the help that you see when you type “Get-Help.” A fifteen-year veteran Microsoft employee, June has written about performance optimization, the Windows registry, command-line tools for system administrators, and tools for driver developers, in addition to writing widely about Windows PowerShell. She’s visiting SEA to share her experience in Windows PowerShell and to invite you to participate in developing the future of Windows PowerShell scripting and collaborative documentation. Session 2 – Introduction to Windows Intune (Matthew Hardman) Abstract: We presented to you the new cloud service, BPOS, sometime last year and now we have something new for you. Windows Intunes targets to help in simplifying PC management for business. Join Matthew Hardman for an introduction to Windows Intune, Microsoft’s cloud solution for managing desktops remotely. In this session we will examine how Intune can help you do patch management, endpoint security and reporting. Registration For registration, please email to admin@sgwindowsgroup.org with the following: - SWUG ID - Name - Email Address Note: There won’t be an event confirmation. Just turn up, we don’t turn people away. However, please register if you’re coming.


{Dev:unplugged}: HTML5 developer contest!
Mon, 07 Mar 2011 06:14:00 +0000
Push your limits and show the world (and our judges) what you’re capable of in a modern browser without the use of any plug-ins. Create and submit web apps built with HTML5 to one of two categories – Gaming or Music. To make things more fun and exciting, Mike Mignola, the creator of Hellboy has opened up a treasure of content for you to use to create your game! You are also entitled to use music by AWOLNATION and Ra Ra Riot to invent your new music experience on the web. Now, what’s a contest without some awesome prizes? All contestants will stand a chance to win up to $40,000 worth of prizes including an all-expense paid trip to the Future of Web Apps Las Vegas with “golden ticket” VIP access.


March TechNet Live Meetings
Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:36:23 +0000
We will be running the following two TechNet Live Meetings in March. Register today! Innovating Virtualisation - Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Live Meeting Session  - Friday, March 11, 2011 1:00 PM, Singapore, Duration:60 Minutes Dynamic memory and RemoteFX are two exciting new capabilities in Windows server 2008 R2 SP1. In this session, we will cover more in details on these two new features and help you to understand their benefits. Optimizing SharePoint® Collaboration - SharePoint Live Meeting Session - Monday, March 14, 2011 1:00 PM, Singapore, Duration:60 Minutes In this session, we will cover the SharePoint flexible deployment options and how to manage and monitor your SharePoint farm with a centralized browser-based interface.


A Glimpse of WebFest 2011
Fri, 25 Feb 2011 00:17:53 +0000
DPE team was proud to present an enriching WebFest 2011 – The New Web, A New Strategy which took place at Microsoft Auditorium on 23 February 2011. The Director of DPE Singapore, Ziraid Saibi kicked off the event by engaging the audience to experience Microsoft Tag with their mobile phones. The outcome of this little exercise was three winners to the latest Microsoft Arc Mouse. As the first speaker for the day, Gavin Warrener from Microsoft Corporation gave a vivid overview and handy demonstration on our newly launched WebMartrix. Posting scenario from NDP2010, David Tang went on to explained how developers can expand their services using Windows Servers.  Known for his entertaining and lighthearted presentations, Matthew Hardman gave an insightful and exciting demo in ietestdrive, showing the capabilities of Internet Explorer9. In addition to all the foregoing, Rama Yurindra and Franky Espehana explored and covered the advantages of using PHP on Windows. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended the event and our wonderful speakers for making time out of their tight schedules! Thank-you and we hope to see you again!  As promised, below are links to the slides presented


WebFest 2011 - The Next Web, a New Strategy
Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:20:54 +0000

If you are interested in the Web and constantly asking yourself “What’s Next?”, you won’t want to miss this annual affair where we showcase the best of Microsoft on the Web front. Get it from the best – we will be featuring a guest presenter from Redmond USA, Gavin Warrener. Gavin Warrener started his career in the Internet industry and was a successful entrepreneur for over 10 years founding two companies: Amorphous New Media and Mint Net. Gavin worked for the first 6 years of his Microsoft career in web strategy, and was most recently the Customer Segment and Web Lead for Microsoft Middle East & Africa, building a web evangelism business that executed evangelism initiatives spanning 76 countries. In 2009, Gavin transferred to Microsoft HQ in Redmond, where he now has responsibility for the global web application ecosystem in the Developer & Platform Evangelism team. Be one of the first to find out more about IE9, our newly launched WebMatrix, PHP on Windows and many more! Find out for yourself ‘What’s Next?’ and see how it will impact you and your business. To register for more information email Sandy at: MSmarketing@swap.com.sg or call +65 6227 7445


Windows Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate Now Available
Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:44:40 +0000
The Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate is available for download. Download it , see it in action and find out more at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-SG/internet-explorer/products/ie-9/home  For ITPros, the Internet Explorer Administration Kit 9, and Internet Explorer 9 Blocker Toolkit are also available through Microsoft Download Center. Start to explore new capabilities and tools for Microsoft’s enterprise-ready browser today.


Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 SP1 RTM Now Available
Wed, 23 Feb 2011 02:40:09 +0000
Keep your PCs and servers on the latest support level with Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. Now available through Windows Update, or the Microsoft Download Center, SP1 provides ongoing improvements to the Windows operating system including previous updates delivered over Windows Update and incremental updates to the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 platforms based on customer and partner feedback. Find out more at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-SG/evalcenter/ff183870.aspx


XNA Game Development Workshops at Singapore Universities
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 06:10:26 +0000
Last week we had Uditha Bandara (XNA MVP) fly over to Singapore to conduct XNA Game Development to polytechnics and universities here.  I have shamelessly copied his blog post that you can access here http://uditha.wordpress.com/   If you are interested in game development you may want to check out his blog, it’s got tons of resources!
--
Last week I did XNA Game Development Workshops at Singapore Universities with collaboration from Microsoft Singapore.Universities Including ,Nanyang Technological University (NTU) ,SIM University and National University of Singapore(NUS).


Connecting to SQL Azure with PHP
Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:25:38 +0000
To start, I would like to first say that although many PHP developers usually recommend MySQL as the accompanying database for PHP, it is not difficult to interface PHP with other databases such as SQL Azure, Microsoft’s cloud-based relational database offering. PHP connects with SQL Azure in a similar manner as how it does with Microsoft SQL Server, ie through an interface known as the Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), which is actually the standard software interface for accessing databases. Each platform and database has its own implementation following the ODBC standard but for this tutorial, I’ll focus on PHP. There are a few ways to connect your php site to MS SQL but the 2 main approaches are as shown in Figure 1.0. 1. Using the “php_mssql.dll” php extension requiring MS SQL Client Tools installed (Figure 1.0, right column). 2. Using the “sqlsrv” driver (“Microsoft Drivers for PHP for SQL Server”) requiring MS SQL Native Client installed (Figure 1.0, left column)


Connecting to SQL Azure with ASP.NET
Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:24:06 +0000
Recently, I have been working with Windows Azure and SQL Azure for my new project and because of this, a good amount of developer friends came to me and wanted me to share more about it hence I decided to write it down as a blog post for anyone who is interested to know about it. What is SQL Azure? SQL Azure is Microsoft’s Relational Database offering on the Cloud. It is build from the foundation of SQL Server It helps to actually ease the provisioning and deployment of many databases. It is easily scalable per se. This blog post is going to show you how easy is it for you to connect to SQL Azure, it actually works the same way as a normal SQL Server Connection, the main difference is the connection string. The username is your username setup at SQL Azure @ Server name. You can download the full sample project with CRUD ( Create, Retrieve, Update, Delete ) at the end of this post.


Win a KINECT with WebsiteSpark Part II
Tue, 08 Feb 2011 08:36:12 +0000


Calling all WebsiteSpark members! If you missed out on your chance to win a Kinect Bundle the last time round, this is the time for you to participate in this contest. Simply follow the steps below and you could be the one who walks away with a Kinect + Xbox 360 bundle worth over S$500. *For those who has reported websites but hasn’t validated them, you are also eligible. This is the time to validate your sites!* How to win the Kinect + Xbox 360 bundle? Criteria 1: Report your websites via http://websitespark.com Criteria 2: Report the most number of sites and win! Criteria 3: Each site submitted must have a unique IP and running on IIS 7.0 and above *If you are not a WebSiteSpark member but would like to join, please vist http://websitespark.com and sign up as a member first. How to submit your entry?


SSQL Server UG January Meet-up
Thu, 27 Jan 2011 11:20:28 +0000
Singapore SQL Server User Group
January User Group Meeting
Resources Governor Explained One of the improvements in SQL Server 2008 is Resources Governor. It has been very popular, but often misunderstood. The tool makes us easier to allocate resources in term of CPU and memory to specific application, database, or users. While configuration is pretty easy, there are some caveats and planning we need to understand to obtain a guaranteed resource. Speaker profile: Name : Choirul Amri Blog   : http://choirulamri.org Choirul Amri is Principal Consultant with Avantus Training. As an SQL Server MVP, he is no stranger to Singapore IT community. Date:     January 27th, 2011 Time:     7:00PM – 8:30 PM Registration starts at 6:30 PM Venue: NTUC Building 21st Floor Microsoft Office One Marina Boulevard Please confirm your attendance by sending email to SGSQL@LIVE.COM


Application Lifecycle Management Event - 19th Jan 2011
Tue, 25 Jan 2011 06:06:20 +0000
Hi All,
Last Wednesday, 19th January, we did our first Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) event of 2011. As before, this event is focused on showcasing to the audience features and usage scenarios of Visual Studio for ALM needs. Specially, this time around we covered Team Foundation Server and testing features in Visual Studio 2010 in greater details. Thank you to all those who attended the event, we hope you found the content useful. Thanks to our awesome speakers for making time out of their busy schedules and sharing their expertise with us. Please feel free to write to us at prakuma@microsoft.com if you have any other feedback, suggestions or asks for deeper content. Some pictures from the event:  As promised, below are links to the slides presented and also some videos that were shared. Session 1: ALM overview: by Arnaud Fontaine -


Awesome WP7 Apps for Chinese New Year
Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:28:35 +0000
Chinese New Year is here again! The festive season of binging on goodies, collecting ‘ang bao’ (red packet) and endless visits to relatives that you only see once a year. Oh what fun!
Here are some WP7 apps that will definitely help you along with your CNY activities and ensure you spend quality time on important things. Don’t sweat the small stuff, let your WP7 do all the dirty work.


WP7 apps from Singapore (part 2!)
Mon, 17 Jan 2011 07:53:38 +0000
Hi guys,
Sometime ago we did a post on WP7 apps built in Singapore.  This is an update post, 83 apps in all! Enjoy!  (To date, there are 6,304 apps for WP7 apps submitted globally according to http://wp7applist.com/)
WP7 App 
Developer
4D Simulator
Tan Kin Lian
7pass
Tran Ngoc Van
Air Horn
Just2us
Alpha-Gene
Springloaded
AppsLah! NewsSG
AppsLah!
Art Love
Smart Aps
Ascii SMS
Smart Aps
AusInNews - Australia News in Topics


Data Binding in Silverlight
Sun, 16 Jan 2011 05:26:40 +0000
Data binding is a key technology in Silverlight that allows data to be presented to end users and then processed. Here is a simple example to show you how to bind data behind to Silverlight UI interface. We will draw a circle by clicking the button and the color and size of the circle will be controlled by back-end with data binding. Step 1: Open Visual Studio and select New Project… Search for Silverlight Application and we’ll be using C# for the back end.  Step 2: Now, you will see the Mainpage.xaml file. XAML stands for eXtensible Application Markup Language. XAML file is pure XML and it is a declarative markup. Visual Studio provides two views at the same time: Design and XAML. Drag a button from the toolbox in the left side to the canvas. And you will see a line of code has been added to the XAML file. You can either right click the button and choose properties to change this button’s properties. Or you can change the button properties directly from the code. After changing, the code will be look like this: [cc lang=‘c’ ] [/cc] Step 3: right click your Silverlight application in the Solution Explorer and Choose Class, name it circle.cs. And add the following code to circle.cs. Here, we create two properties of circle object, which are color and size. Both of them are set to String type. [cc lang=‘c’] namespace DBSilverlight { public class circle { public string color { get; set; } public string size { get; set; } } } [/cc] Step 4: Come back to MainPage.XAML. And drag a Ellipse in the canvas. Modify the code in the XAML to this: [cc lang=‘c’] [/cc] Here,  we change Height and Width to {Binding size} and add a new property called Fill with {Binding color}. Here, when this Ellipse is generated from the front end, it will look for the binding value once we set up the data context. Step 5: Double click the button in the canvas and it will populate a method in the back (MainPage.xaml.cs)


In case you did not catch CodeMash 2011. Beware, Not for the timid.
Mon, 10 Jan 2011 15:10:09 +0000
  
Your browser does not support iframes.

For the brave only. Click here to discover the wonders of Microsoft WebMatrix.


SharePointPros.SG Meet-up on 13 Jan 2011
Mon, 10 Jan 2011 07:17:38 +0000
 Date : 13 January 2011 Time : 06:30PM – 09:00PM Location: Microsoft Singapore Level 21. One Marina Boulevard ** Refreshments will be provided Session Agenda Automated Installation of SharePoint 2010 using PowerShell Chyan Yee Goh, Consultant at Microsoft Consulting In this session, we will start with some PowerShell basics in SharePoint 2010. After that we will cover the reasons behind the usage of PowerShell and we will go into the challenges and scenarios when installing SharePoint 2010 using PowerShell scripting. Word Automation Service K.Mohamed Faizal, Lead Consultant at NCS This session you will lean creating custom solution to convert Word documents to PDF using document library list item event receiver to call Word Automation Services to convert Word documents to PDF when they are added to the list. The event receiver checks whether the list item added is a Word document. If so, it creates a conversion job to create a PDF version of the Word document and pushes the conversion job to the Word Automation Services conversion job queue. About Faizal: Faizal has over a decade of experience in Information Technology with a focus on enabling portals, Internet and Intranet. His area of specialization include but are not limited to evaluate and develop migration strategies for Lotus Notes application to SharePoint/.NET based solution, design content management, web-based self-service and collaboration solutions


Singapore Windows Azure User Group First Meetup!
Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:47:45 +0000
[caption id=“attachment_2979” align=“aligncenter” width=“200” caption=“Windows Azure SG User Group”][/caption] Description: Microsoft Windows Azure Platform Singapore Community is for fans of Windows Azure, SQL Azure & Windows Azure Platform AppFabric. Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/MWAPSG
Contact details:

Faizal Lead Consultant, NCS (P) Ltd Email: kmdfaizal@yahoo.com


Wely Azure MVP, Solution Architect, NCS (P) Ltd Email: Wely_live@live.com

First Meet Up on Jan 26th 2010: 


Windows Phone 7 Resources from MSDN Flash
Tue, 21 Dec 2010 03:15:38 +0000
Today’s MSDN Flash newsletter has a chokful of resources to help developers get started with WP7 development.  For those of you who don’t know, MSDN Flash is a free newsletter to help developers stay up to date with the latest development news from Microsoft.  You can subscribe today!
Get Started with Windows Phone 7!
App Hub, your Windows Phone 7 developer portal, offers a single location where you can download the free Windows Phone 7 toolkit, find training and sample code, register for Marketplace, and submit applications and games.


{Community} Technology Update 2010
Mon, 13 Dec 2010 10:46:09 +0000
{Community} Technology Update 2010 Technical Updates for the community, by the community The 7th iteration of CTU is back – Once again, the Singapore User Groups have come together to bring a full day of technical sharing ranging from topics for developers, IT professionals and database administrators. We’ve packed a full day of contents which is meant to get you up to date with the latest technologies in the Microsoft stack. If you’re one person who learns better only with practice, come on and sign up for our Hands-on Lab!


Awesome Windows Azure X'mas Giveaways!
Mon, 13 Dec 2010 08:46:02 +0000
Congratulations to Koh Zi Han, you have won the Xbox Kinect bundle. We will also contact the rest of you who have won the GV movie tickets through email shortly. Last but not least, we would like to take this opportunity to Thank You all for participating in the Windows Azure X’mas giveaways and your support in the past year. Here’s wishing you a prosperous year ahead! (=  How to win the Xbox Kinect bundle? Step 1: Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/offers/ Step 2: Scroll down to ‘Standard Offers’ Step 3: Click on ‘Introductory Special’ and sign up. Step 4: Send us your purchase confirmation email, full name, address, contact details to v-kilaum@microsoft.com Terms & Conditions:


Future of Silverlight Starts Now
Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:21:46 +0000

 
You’re invited to a very special event on December 2nd, 2010
Learn about the future of Silverlight from Corporate Vice President, Scott Guthrie and other experts, direct from Microsoft’s HQ.
Hear about our plans for the next version of Silverlight, the latest developments as well as in-depth sessions on building applications with Silverlight.
Registration is free – take part in-person or online.  
Find out more and Register online


SQL User Group November Meetup
Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:21:46 +0000
The Future of SQL Server I believe that there are many of you are busy migrating. Moving and upgrading from previous version to SQL Server 2008, and some of you already using SQL Server 2008 R2. There are tons of R2 features we can count on, especially on BI part. We already have countless meeting in the past talking about those BI enhancements, its benefit, and how does it improve and impact our development. Now it’s time for reflection. What we have done in the past. What we have achieved, and what are our expectation for the future. Are there any features you want to include in the next release? Do you have any idea on how to make this platform better in the future? Come and join us with 2 executives from SQL Server product team in our next meeting. This is the right time to hear about strategic direction of SQL Server directly from people who made the product. You may have some concerns, wish list and feedback. Nobody knows better other than us on how SQL Server performs in daily production. Our feedback will be very valuable for the product team to make necessary improvements. Bring your boss too; he/she may have strategic idea that will be valuable for our meeting. We will discuss the following topics:


WIN a KINECT with WebsiteSpark
Thu, 25 Nov 2010 08:18:43 +0000

Calling all WebsiteSpark members! Want to get your hands on the latest toy in town, the Kinect? Simply follow the steps below and you could be the one who walks away with a Kinect + Xbox 360 bundle worth over S$500. *For those who has reported websites but hasn’t validated them, you are also eligible. This is the time to validate your sites!* How to win the Kinect + Xbox 360 bundle? Criteria 1: Report your websites via http://websitespark.com * Criteria 2: Submit the most number of potential WebsiteSpark partners ** * First 50 to report your sites will recieve an awesomely geeky “Make Web not War” t-shirt ** Submit at least 10 unique potential partners. If somebody submits the same contact we’ll cancel it out. These partners should qualify for WebsiteSpark, details of eligibility here. How to submit your entry?


MessagingTalk UG meeting on 24th Nov - Lync Server 2010
Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:22:07 +0000

Nov 24th Meet Up Agenda
Date: 24th Nov 2010
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00PM
Venue: Microsoft Singapore (Conference Room SINOMB 22CF-12)
7:00 PM to 7:15PM - Registration
7:20 PM to 8:00PM – Lync Server 2010 –Voice Architecture and Planning for High Availability by David Lim
8:00 PM to 8:15PM - Toilet/Stretching Break
8:15PM to 10 PM – Lync Server 2010 Installation and Configuration Demo by David Lim


Create Theme Friendly Buttons in WP7
Tue, 23 Nov 2010 08:38:28 +0000
Check out this blog post by Bok on how you can create theme friendly buttons in WP7.  He outlines how you can make sure your icon buttons are still visible after users have customized their phone color themes.  This is also particularly important for the Marketplace certification process where these conditions are tested, to determine whether your app and its UI elements are still visible after user customizations.  Here’s a snippet of Bok’s post.  I’ll let you click to his entire post.  Also check out his app up on Marketplace – “Currency 7”


How to use Back Button on Windows Phone 7
Sat, 20 Nov 2010 02:02:05 +0000
This post is by our Microsoft Student Partner Yan Li. Recently, I worked on an app for the Windows Phone 7 platform and submitted it to the marketplace for certification. I’ve learnt many things and gained many insights after going through this process and would like to share one of these with you, developers and potential developers of the Windows Phone 7 platform. Throughout this post, I will be making references to the official Windows Phone 7 Application Certification Requirements document (WP7ACR) which can be downloaded at http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9730558. Under Section 5.2.4 of the WP7ACR, clause a, it is stated that:


Post PDC10 Viewing Party
Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:48:03 +0000
The Post PDC10 Viewing Party, 8th November at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, co-hosted by Hammad Rajjoub from  was a smashing success as we had a good time watching PDC10 keynotes from Steve Ballmer and Bob Muglia and talking about some of the technologies mentioned in PDC10. There was awesome freebies, insightful content and engaging conversations going around the room. It all ended with a scrumptious dinner that everyone enjoyed immensely and of course the grand lucky draw prize of an Xbox 360 + Guitar Hero package was given out to Veerasivanantham Paramasivam of Bank Of America Merrill Lynch. Here are some snapshots of the event:        During the event, Ziriad’s (Microsoft Singapore DPE Director) keynote covered some of the key technologies such as Cloud, IE9, Silverlight, Windows Phone 7 etc. which was followed by two break-out sessions. You can check out Ziriad’s slides here: [slideshare id=5774621&doc=pdc2010update-101114035258-phpapp01] First break-out session is from Mingfei (Microsoft Developer Evangelist) on Windows Azure AppFabric. Slides below: [slideshare id=5774665&doc=boacloudcomputing-101114040211-phpapp02] Second break-out session is from Hammad (Microsoft MVP, Lead of ) on Windows Server AppFabric. Slides below: [slideshare id=5741540&doc=windowsserverappfabric-pdc2010-101111065307-phpapp01]


Singapore PHP User Group - 3rd Anniversary Meetup
Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:21:25 +0000
SINGAPORE PHP USER GROUP – 3rd Anniversary Meetup! Agenda in brief: 7:00pm – 8:00pm Registration & Networking Session 8:00pm – 8:30pm MS Internet Explorer 9 + HTML5 8:30pm – 9:00pm CakePHP in the Wild! - FlickEvents 9:00pm – 9:30pm Introducing Enterprise PHP Center Asia TOPICS: 1) Microsoft Internet Explorer 9 + HTML5 Presenter: Jonathan Wong, Regional Product Manager for Internet Explorer, Microsoft He works with partners, customers and developers to help them innovate and build cool things with Microsoft technologies. Jonathan will be sharing with us about the cool new web tools in IE9 and its support for HTML5. 2) CakePHP in the Wild - FlickEvents Presenter: Huang Yaoquan, Founder, FlickEvents Easy event management as simple as a flick of switch. With FlickEvents, event organizer can now focus on organizing great events instead of worrying about the nitty-gritty stuff. See how its done in CakePHP - the PHP Framework http://flickevents.com/ 3) Introducing Enterprise PHP Center Asia Presenter: Rama Yurindra, Rynet Singapore, (Zend Technologies Representatives in Asia) The Enterprise PHP Center is a comprehensive collection of Enterprise PHP resources for Business Managers & IT professionals brought to you by Rynet Group and it’s affiliates and partners. The Enterprise PHP Center is a complete online resources in the PHP eco system. It will address business managers as well as individual developers with decision–making authority. http://www.enterprisephpcenter.com/ Venue Sponsor: Microsoft Singapore Food Sponsor: Foound Pte Ltd You could register the event here.


Microsoft shifts a million Kinect units within 10 days!
Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:34:18 +0000
Microsoft just announced that it has shifted a million Kinect units within 10 days! It seems that it is not hard for Microsoft to achieve its sales predictions upwards to five million by the end of 2010. Especially, by Chirstmas time, Microsoft is hoping to sell Kinect in 38 countires and Kinect is going to be the hottest gift this season. For Singapore, we are counting down to the Xbox 360’s event of the year - “X10” Kinect for Xbox 360 launch event! 17 to 21 November @ Plaza Singapura! Exclusive pre-sale for DBS/POSB cardmembers starts on 17th November @ 12noon onwards. Sales will be available to all other customers from the 18th November,10am onwards. We are excited and we …hope to see you there! For event details, you could check out here. Dance your way to Big Prizes at Kinect X10 Event! Lastly, watch how New York’s famed Times Square went controller-free on the Kinect launch day in US. NYC, as the Crossroads of the World was transformed into a dancing, singing, A-list celebration for the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360. A full day of demos, star-studded appearances and a massive, choreographed dance routine culminated in an excited line of thousands of fans eagerly waiting to take home the future of home entertainment. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blkV4KH8zxo&feature=related[/youtube]


WINNER of "Guess what she is smiling about.." Contest!
Thu, 04 Nov 2010 07:13:05 +0000

So here is how the story goes… we have a winner for our “Guess what she is smiling about” contest and here are the top 3 entries that we think are the most creative! In 3rd place… “I guess the lady is saying about having an application that knows whether the guy she adores likes her based on his heartbeat rate.” -Lin Liyi In 2nd place… “She wants an app that lets her share what her boyfriend sings to her.” -Anuj Bheda and the winner of our KINECT… “She needs an app that can detect the peak frequency of laser emissions coming out from someone so she can plan her counter attack accordingly..” -Jocelyn Villaraza Big ‘Thank You’ to all who have participated, Re-Tweeted, shared this contest and congratulations to Jocelyn for giving us such an entertaining and creative answer.  Jocelyn’s app would really come in handy in the future, when all of us carry around our laser guns and light sabres ready for a showdown anytime, its like the wild wild west 2.0! By the way, did I mention that the 2 runner ups gets super awesome limited edition WP7 stickers? Yes… WP7 stickers, you will get, hmmm.


Beermate.js - Singapore Javascript MeetUp
Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:20:27 +0000
Dear Javascript fans, Don’t miss this monthly meet up group. Beers provided! http://www.beermatesjs.com/ Current Meetup Happening 4th November 2010, Thursday Hackerspace SG, 730pm

The mighty JS function (Timothee Groleau)
How I got started in Javascript (Lim Chee Aun )
Got Joose? (Kenny Shen )

Register at http://www.flickevents.com/beermates 


1st Startup Weekend Singapore
Mon, 01 Nov 2010 04:59:43 +0000
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Startup Weekend just finished yesterday with forty five passionate people attending and twenty ideas shared. Seven teams were formed with the goal of refining their ideas and making it to reality. Congrats to everybody who came and we hope to see your awesome startups soon. Here’s some words from Marc Nager, director of Startup Weekend on his Asian trip and when he’s coming back to Singapore. [vimeo]http://vimeo.com/16353962[/vimeo] You can find out more about Startup Weekend at http://startupweekend.org/ http://singapore.startupweekend.org/ and find out how Microsoft helps startups at http://www.bizspark.com/


Cool Windows Phone 7 Application by Microsoft MVP - MemoGenius
Mon, 01 Nov 2010 04:10:22 +0000
This post is written by Michael Sync, a Microsoft MVP. More information could be found here. How are you doing? guys.. I’ve been so busy with both Windows Phone 7 development and Silverlight development lately and I couldn’t able to update anything on my blog.. Sorry, guys! As we are sharing our code base between Silverlight and Phone 7, there are a lot of interesting things that I wanna share with you guys.  I will write about it in different post later but I gotta tell you that it’s not that simple to share the codebase between two platforms. :) As of now, I like to share some screenshots of our Windows Phone 7 application that we submitted around Oct 4th. I like to tell you guys about what we are doing and etc first. We are developing Silverlight and Phone 7 applications for Brain training games. We already developed around 20 games in Silverlight and all of our games support both English ( memolife.com ) and Norwegian (hjerneklubben.no). We started working on the version 2 of our application a few months back. When we heard about Windows Phone 7, we are very excited about it and decided to support the Windows mobile platform for our applications as well. Chris Ismael from  Microsoft Singapore helped us to get the prototype version of Windows Phone 7 device (LG) so that we can use it for developing our application. (Thanks, Chris! ) Our application is called “MemoGenius Lite”.. It includes two brain training games and one course. You need to finish the “Flash Course” in order to unlock our brain training games. We added “Share” button in our application so that if you like to share about our application with your friends in facebook, you can simply click on that button to share… 


Startup Weekend Singapore is here!
Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:20:03 +0000
 We are excited to announce our first ever Startup Weekend Singapore! Click here for full details.
What is Startup Weekend? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8AG8SNyuTU[/youtube]
Marc Nager, Director of Startup Weekend Global Operations will be coming out for the weekend to help facilitate the weekend and share his experience after being to dozens of successful Startup Weekends around the world. A big thank you to Dennis Phua and Jeffrey Paine who have really been leading the efforts and all the wonderful sponsors and supporters SGEntrepreneurs and IDA Where? Microsoft SG, 1 Marina Boulevard, NTUC Building. When? 29 - 31 October 2010 Click here to register now!


Free ebook: Programming Windows Phone 7, by Charles Petzold
Fri, 29 Oct 2010 06:27:50 +0000

24 chapters of 1,000 pages of WP7 development goodness, for free!
Also worth mentioning, Silverlight MVP Michael Sync was mentioned in the post above. You have to click it to see it!
We’d also like to remind everyone that you can contact the following if you are looking for a Windows Phone 7 training here in Singapore:


Appscellent – http://www.appscellent.com/blog


Avantus Training – contact mindywong@avantustraining.com


Wei Meng Lee – contact weimenglee@learn2develop.net


Free tools, free ebook, and the phones are out! (We’re also loaning test devices to eager WP7 developers, and providing early access to Marketplace). 


Silverlight Showcase: Dawn of a New Era
Thu, 28 Oct 2010 06:33:06 +0000
I presented Silverlight technology at Rich Media rocks 2010 event on Oct 25th 2010 in Singapore. And here is a recap of some cases I showed yesterday. For more examples, you could visit here. For more information, you could contact me at yanmf@Microsoft.com, Or follow my twitter @mingfeiy. The presentation slides could be downloaded here.
Demo One: Hard Rock Cafe Memorabilia
http://memorabilia.hardrock.com/?src=homepage_memobox_headergraphic  Hard Rock Cafe is the haven for true rock n’ roll fans, offering a full rock experience through our cafes, hotels, casinos, memorabilia and music venues all over the world. They have a lot of collections of artists displayed in hard-rock cafes, hotels, casinos and etc, from Madonna’s gloves worn on The Girlie Show tour displayed in Hard Rock Cafe Cayman Islands to Queen’s “Red Speical” Guitar displayed in Hard Rock Cafe in Vegas. There is a special item in this collection to demonstrate the power of Silverlight Deep Zoom technology. It is the 13th item on the fourth row. You will see one envelope there with four letters. That’s Item 043311- Paul McCartney - The Beatles Letter from Paul and Beatles autographs. Below are the screen shots of zoom-in effects. You could zoom till you see the last picture displayed above. Deep Zoom technology is very different from traditional zoom-in. It will bring in new level of details while you zoom into the pictures. It brings users brand new experiences!   


SEA SharePoint Conference
Tue, 26 Oct 2010 11:20:32 +0000
 Don’t miss out on the Southeast Asia’s biggest SharePoint event of the year!
This is the conference to learn about SharePoint 2010 with expert local and international speakers presenting on topics that will help you understand and succeed with your SharePoint implementations and add real value to your organisation and businesses.
In addition to the session content you’ll have ample opportunities to network with your peers in the community and technical and industry experts including local and international Microsoft Most Valued Professionals and Southeast Asia’s top Certified Partners.


Watch the video and Guess what she’s smiling about… and win a Xbox Kinect!
Thu, 21 Oct 2010 09:33:24 +0000
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COeOEvd0ioY[/youtube] Guess what she (the lady below) is saying and get creative to stand a chance to win a Kinect!

 Update: Here are the winners for the limited edition WP7 notepads! To receive your notepad, email us your mailing address: innovativesg@live.com @Metabaron @Luke2375 @vitcott @anuj89 @jont87 @xsurycx @JeffWeber @icelava @xxkyzerxx @GaryPretty @tanjohnny @vertongen @flazm @trydis @chillfire @luxurytravelled @umay @oscarprawata @paramitta @limguohong @sebng @oysts @JLancaster3 @KayJayThwaps @TMGaming @gbmutley @MissDMeaner @michaelsync @VeryKross @swfdougherty @ivonnelestarti @ferrygun @pinkrody28 @jordanclark @ginatan28 @DANGO547 @tikrung @alvintangsc @supersuf @oscarprawata @everlasting86 @benjaminhuang @dreamtcs @jordan_clark Terms and Conditions:


Introduction to WP7 Development by Windows Phone MVP
Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:00:57 +0000
In hist first series of Windows Phone 7 articles on mobiForge, Windows Phone Development MVP Wei-Meng Lee brings us on a development journey to explore the full capabilities of the new Windows Phone 7 OS.  You may remember Wei-Meng in the previous WP7 posts here and here.  In this first installment, he explores the tools and shows us how we can start writing our first application quickly.  Check out his inaugural article here on Windows Phone 7 – http://mobiforge.com/developing/story/introduction-windows-phone-7-development.


VS2010 ALM Solution Briefing Sept 2010 Re-cap
Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:29:26 +0000
We conducted our 1st Application LifeCycle Management (ALM) Solution Briefing on the new Visual Studio 2010 on 22nd Sep in Microsoft Auditorium. A total of 110 attendees across various disciplines such as architects, application programmer, developers, tester & project manager attended the talk. We invited 3 speakers to deliver the ALM message. The general poll from the evaluation feedback form indicated that we have delivered a well balance content which has helped to elevate the use of ALM as a tool to help improve productivity in the daily work of a developer. As the opening keynote, Mr Steven Sim who is the Microsoft Regional Developer Tools Sales Lead shared on “VS2010 Your ALM Solution”. Steven shared  the definition of a well-managed Application LifeCycle and how VS2010 can be leverage to address some of the common challenges encountered during development cycle. Did you know that -  “Based on time, budget, and delivering specified functionality 68% of projects never made it into production or were canceled”. Check out Steven’s slide to find out more on Microsoft ALM Solution.


WP7 apps from Singapore!
Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:52:40 +0000
Hi guys! Developers here in Singapore are also hard at work in polishing and getting their games and apps published in the Windows Phone 7 Marketplace. Here’ a quick glimpse at some of them.  Be sure to check out their links as well!

 Armor Valley – Combat strategy game ported from Xbox (Indie games).  Included in the Xbox Live games on Windows Phone
 
 Dino Parade – tower defense-like game with dinosaurs, penguins, toasters, gatling guns, and UFO’s!


VS2010 ALM 3 Days Hands-On-Lab
Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:20:05 +0000
 Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 is an interoperable family of products that help make it easier to create, test and deliver custom software solutions. A rich set of integrated tools and server infrastructure coupled with flexible and agile process’s that represent a breakthrough for development tools, help you manage and optimize your entire software development process. Learn how you can be more productive in developing application using Visual Studio 2010 with effective communication and collaboration, achieve holistic Application Lifecycle Management using Team Foundation Server 2010. Discover the various features of Visual Studio 2010, such as architecting tools, advanced debugging techniques, and testing tools in this workshop. Register NOW to avoid disappointment. Please click here to register. Who Should Attend TDM, IT Manager, Project Manager, Application Manager, Architect,Development Team Leader, Developer, Programmer Date 11 - 13 October 2010 (Monday – Wednesday) Time 9:00am – 5:00pm Venue Avantus Training Pte Ltd 79 Robinson Road #15-04 CPF Building Singapore 068897 Program Overview


Razor and Webmatrix : Convert Static HTML into Dynamic data-driven pages
Wed, 06 Oct 2010 17:25:27 +0000
In this tutorial, we will move a existing static websites onto a Razor syntax-based dynamic webistes with a product database. That’s a case often happens. For instance, a bakery shop hires a designer for designing a online bakery shopping website. However, after a while, the shop owner decides to add in more products dynamically through database. And here, I will show you how to do it through WebMatrix in a easy and fast way. 1. Firstly, download html-based bakery online shopping cart web project here. Unzip it onto your hard disk. 2. Open WebMatrix and select Site From Folder. Select files from folder where you unzip Bakery_Final. After clicking ok, you will see all the files laying out in the left corner.  3. Click on Default.html and click Run. You will see the Fourth Coffee pages showed as below. There are three pages here: Home, Our Products and About Us. Noticed that the headers and footers of all sites are the same. And product information are all static. Next step, we will try to move all the duplicated parts into one single file.  4. Click on New on the menu bar and choose cshtml. Name it _Layout.html. Noticed here we use _ before the file name. It indicates that this file can’t be used to browse directly. This is similar to master page in ASP.NET.  5. Copy all the code from About.html to CSHtml. Remove code block showed below. This is the content part varies for each page.  6. Replaced the code block above with the following code: (Razor Syntax is case-sensitive. So please be careful of the upper-case). [cc]


10 minutes to understand ASP.NET Razor Syntax and WebMatrix
Wed, 06 Oct 2010 08:01:59 +0000
What’s Razor Syntax and Why WebMatrix? Microsoft wants to provide a simple and light way for students, hobbyist, inline script developers or web developers in general to develop websites fast. They will be able to start webpages from scratch or from some open source templates, such as WordPress or Joomla. WebMatrix is a stack under 50 MB, if you have .Net 4 installed, it will be under 15 MB. And you will get ASP.NET Razor Syntax along with WebMatrix. We want to give people an alternative to develop webpages in a lightweight and low-concept way.  WebMatrix is composed by four parts:


Deploying Existing Silverlight Application (Deep Zoom) on Windows Azure
Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:48:55 +0000
In this blog, I will introduce several Microsoft Technologies showed as below and you could view live demo on http://tibet.cloudapp.net/:

Using Deep Zoom Composer to develop a Silverlight based photo gallery (You could use your existing Silverlight Application here)
Migrate Existing Silverlight Application onto Windows Azure
Deploy Windows Azure Application on Cloud

Here, I will showcase how easily you could compose a Silverlight-based Deep Zoom applications onto cloud. You can skip part I if you plan to use your existing Silverlight application. Here, I will introduce a very powerful tool called Deep Zoom Composer in part I. If you have a lot of pictures to show, you can compose a Silverlight application easily for you to browser all the photos. You can check Hardrock café example here. Firstly, let’s walk-through how to use Deep Zoom Composer to develop Siverlight based photo gallery. 1.  You need to download Deep Zoom Composer here. This is a tool to allow the preparation of images for use with the Deep Zoom feature in Silverlight. Hard Rock is using Deep Zoom technology to feature their site, and you could take a look here. 2.  After installation and open the tool. Select File - New Project… 3.  You will see a Add images button in the right up corner. By clicking it, you could upload photos from your local drives.  4.  Next, click on Compose Icon on the Top Navigation Bar and you could compose your imagines on canvas by drag-and-drop. Noted, you could zoom in/out canvas to place photos with different sizes. Meanwhile, noted there are several functions lined up in the right side of the tool, such as Slide Show, Menu, Internal Links, External Links. You could drag photos from right sides into Slide show to compose the sequences of your slide show. Also, you could do the same for the rest. For internal/external links, you could specify link and when user clicks on the photo, he/she will be re-directed to the page that your link specified.  5.  Now, click on Export Icon from the top navigation bar. Type in the name of your Deep Zoom application and choose location for your files as well. There are several templates you could choose from. And here, I will select Deep Zoom Navigation. And you could further customize your image settings. Click on Export.  6.  After exporting successfully, you will be able to either viewing your silverlight application in web browser or browse files in local folders.  Secondly, we will see how to Migrate Existing Silverlight Application onto Windows Azure. 7. Download Windows Azure SDK and Tools for Visual Studio here. 8. Open Visual Studio as administrator. Current I am using Visual Studio 2010 for this example.  9. Select File –> New –> Project… Select Windows Azure Cloud Service in Visual C# Category.  9. Right click on Role Folder under TibetDemo project and select New Web Role Project…  10. Select ASP.NET Web Role and to Cloud service solution and rename it as tibetWeb showed as below:  11. Now, copy over files from XXDocumentsExpressionDeep Zoom Composer ProjectsTibet-DemoExported Datatibet_demo (you may look for your own file directory) under this project. A quick way is to right click on tibetWeb and open folder in windows explorer. 12. Click on  Icon [Show all Files] showed below and you will see folder GeneratedImages showed in a dash line. Right-Click and select Included in the project.


Register as a Windows Phone 7 Student Developer in Singapore
Wed, 29 Sep 2010 07:16:25 +0000
Interested in creating your own applications on Windows Phone 7? What to launch your app into the Marketplace but don’t know how? This guide will walk you through on how you can use DreamSpark on how you can register yourself and be able to put you app in the Windows Phone Marketplace. Download the Windows Phone Marketplace registration guide. -Chun Siong Tan, Microsoft Student Partner Lead, NUS


MessagingTalk User Group September Meetup
Fri, 24 Sep 2010 08:55:57 +0000
September Meet Up Agenda
Date: 29th Sept 2010 Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00PM Venue: Microsoft Singapore (Conference Room SINOMB 22CF-12) 7:00 PM to 7:15PM - Registration 7:20 PM to 8:30PM – Third Party Archive Integration in Exchange 2010 by Shaji Firoz 8:30 PM to 8:45PM - Toilet/Stretching Break 8:45PM to 10PM – Synergy in Microsoft Productivity Solutions by David Lim Abstract for Third Party Archive Integration in Exchange 2010: With release of SP1 in Exchange 2010, archiving is in-built now. However, this session will be focusing on third party archiving solution, namely, SourceOne from EMC.We will be going through high level framework of SourceOne architecture, its integration with Exchange 2010, general features and lastly, how to manage it. Session will emphasis mostly on used case basis, where users moved from Notes mail system to Exchange Server, manage their huge NSF file in SourceOne Archiving Server. Also, the session will discuss about features such as Journaling, Shortcuting and PST ingestion. So join us in this month’s meet up and get to know more about this beta release. Abstract for Synergy in Microsoft Productivity Solutions: Demo how the IW (informationWorker) can leverage Microsoft Unified Communication on daily work. In this session, will demo how OCS 2007 a simple phone call can become a conference call or a video conference on the fly. Voice-mail and faxes move over the network like email and will arrive in the Microsoft Office Outlook inbox where users can sort, prioritize, and forward them, just like any piece of email. Users on the road can dial in over any telephone to hear their emails and appointments. About Shaji Firoz: Shaji Firoz is a Senior Consultant working for IT Outsourcing company in Singapore. Shaji works mostly on Microsoft Technologies - with keen on messaging environment. He leads the development & implementation efforts in Exchange & Active Directory environments. He authors MS Exchange based technical articles in this site and spends time on blogging about Hosted Exchange in msexchange.org blog section. In recognition of his knowledge of Windows & Exchange Servers and his willingness to share the information and help to community, Microsoft recognized him with MVP in Exchange Server. About David Lim: David Lim works as a Solution Manager that focuses on Microsoft Infrastructure Solution and Microsoft Unified Communication in Local System Integration Company; a Microsoft Gold Partner and Microsoft Voice Specialized Partner. His expertise in Microsoft Unified Communication, based on Microsoft Exchange and Communication Server Solutions. I also experienced in Microsoft Virtualization Technology and System Center. Registration For registration, please email to tristonwan@gmail.com with the following:


Build Windows Phone 7 apps using Project Nimbus data
Thu, 16 Sep 2010 22:45:38 +0000
Hi folks!  We have a couple of cool updates today.
Windows Phone Developer Tools Final Release
The Windows Phone Developer Tools RTM is out!  That means you can now download the final release of the tools at http://developer.windowsphone.com/ and start reading refreshed content at MSDN to find out what’s new.  Popular among developers in this final release are the Panorama and Pivot controls which lets you quickly build beautiful Metro-themed applications.



SGOG - Business Intelligence in Office and SharePoint - 15 Sept 2010
Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:27:03 +0000
After receiving much comments from various members: Excel PowerPivot in 2010. We’ll give Project 2010 a short break till the next session as I think the broader topic at hand is Business Intelligence in Microsoft Office and Microsoft SharePoint 2010. And so… for this month, we’ll cover just that in a bumper 2 hour session on BI in 2010. Agenda: 1900h    Introduction 1905h    Business Intelligence in Microsoft Office Excel 2010 including PowerPivot for Excel 2010. 1945h    Break 2000h    Business Intelligence in Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2010                 Covering PowerPivot for SharePoint 2010, Excel Services 2010 and Performance Point 2010. It’s going to be a packed session and do pass word around as few sessions integrate as many products into one demo as  this… Date: 15th September 2010, Wed Time: 1845h - 2100h Venue: Microsoft Singapore, Level 22CF-12 To register, simple email Tian-AnTan@avantustraining.com. to confirm your attendance and any number of friends tagging along. Tian-An MVP Office System Singapore Office User Group


Visual Studio: ALM Solution Briefing
Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:11:15 +0000
   Application Life-Cycle Management (ALM) Solution Briefing Innovative applications can catapult your business forward providing you with a competitive advantage. Microsoft’s Visual Studio Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) solution allows you to realize the strategic value of your custom software investments. Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 is an interoperable family of products that help make it easier to create, test and deliver custom software solutions. A rich set of integrated tools and server infrastructure coupled with flexible and agile processes that represent a breakthrough for development tools, help you manage and optimize your entire software development process. This event gives you a valuable opportunity to learn more about how Microsoft’s Visual Studio Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) solution can help you reduce cost, reduce development time, increase quality, and improve project visibility and manageability. To Register : Email Sandy at MSmarketing@swap.com.sg with the following info: Name, Job Title, Phone, Mobile, Email Address, Company Name, Company Address For more information please call us up at +65 6227 7445. Who Should Attend: TDM, IT Manager, Project Manager, Application Manager, Architect, Development Team Leader, Developer, Programmer Date: 22nd September 2010 (Wednesday) Time: 1:00pm – 5:15pm (Registration starts at 1.00pm) Venue: Level 21 Auditorium, NTUC Centre, One Marina Boulevard, Microsoft Singapore Program Overview:


August Microsoft - Azione BizSpark Startup Night
Tue, 07 Sep 2010 04:00:13 +0000
We just concluded our August BizSpark Startup night in partnership with Azione Capital last August 25. This time around we focused on Windows Phone 7 and the awesome applications that can be made with platform. We asked some of our partners that are developing on Windows Phone to present some of their applications There were three presenters who showed their applications. 1. Melvin Suan and Michael Ng from Nanyang Polytechnic showed close to fifteen apps developed with the help of the students at NYP. 2. Muhammad Mulyadi, a hobbyist developer, showed his Bus Guide application for the Windows Phone. Something he created for Windows Mobile 6.5 and will now be also available once Windows Phone 7 comes out. 3. Janelle Lee from Protege Production, showed us her Armor Valley game for the Windows Phone. Initially available for the Xbox and now ported for the Windows Phone 7 as well. We blogged about Janelle and her company here. We also had a great line up of panelists that were there to provide their feedback and insight on the applications created. The panelist were 1. Alex Toh, President, Mobile Alliance Singapore 2. Loo Cheng Chuan, Principal, Singtel Idea Factory 3. Alvin Yap, CEO, The Mobile Gamer 4. Nelson Allen, Director, Microsoft Aside from showcase of applications, Caroline Yeung of Young Upstarts also shared her expertise on Public Relations during the session. You can view here coverage of the event here. For everybody who wasn’t able to come to the event and wants to learn more about Windows Phone, be sure to check out our blog as well as http://developer.windowsphone.com/ to learn more about Windows Phone development. If you are looking for support and funding on Azione Capital is part MDA’s iJAM funding scheme. If you are interested to know more reach out to Azion Capital here or contact us here and we’ll be more than happy to connect you with them. Again thanks for everybody who attended the event and hope to see you in the near future. BizSpark Startup Night is a bi-monthly event for Singapore’s startup community to network with fellow technology startups. If you are a technology startup then there’s no reason not to join the BizSpark program. Find out more on how BizSpark provides software, support and visibility for startups here. [gallery]


Windows Phone 7 : How to Store Data and Pass Data between Pages
Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:43:15 +0000
This is a walk-through tutorial for demonstrating following functions:

Store data on Windows Phone 7 by using Isolated Storage
Pass data through parameter between pages
Dynamic generate data grid, which contains data and related link button
Use XElement, XAttribute as data structure

I will explain related concepts through codes step by step. This application is used as a shopping list. Users will be able to key-in items they want to shop and view the shopping list as well. Add and Open function are implemented and I will leave remove function for you to try out. Before start, You could download sourcecode here. And Windows Phone 7 developer package could be downloaded here. 1. Click on File ->New-> Project … Let’s name the project: ShoppingList_Demo.


Sharepoint Pros: Sharepoint Content Governance - 9 Sept 2010
Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:49:14 +0000
SharePoint Content Governance Linden Daniels, Microsoft Consulting Services SharePoint is one of the fastest selling products from Microsoft. Yet it still causes IT and users problems with scaling usability, performance and operations. Find out more by understanding the underlying architecture and what remediation can be done. Refreshments will be provided, courtesy of Microsoft Singapore. Please RSVP to ssofian@mvps.org to confirm your attendance Linden is a Principal Consultant working for Microsoft Singapore, focusing in the areas of Knowledge Management, Document Management and Collaboration. Originally working in Document Management, he has moved on to Portal Technologies where he now specialises the Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Products and Technologies. Linden has been working in Microsoft Singapore for 10 years and is a leading expert in SharePoint technologies in the South East Asia region. He has helped many large organisations and companies successfully implement SharePoint products and technologies in Singapore, South East Asia, Australia and Europe, such as McKinsey, Singapore’s and the Australian Tax Offices, Major Oil Companies, Ministry of Education, the Law Courts, International Financial and Banking Institutions, International Chip Companies etc.  His 15 years of information technology experience has exposed him to a wide range of development platforms and systems. This enables his to understand the strategic nature of information technology across diverse vertical industries.


SWUG - Open Space Security with Kaspersky
Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:14:30 +0000
<We’re giving away a copy of Windows Home Server to a lucky attendee!> Date: 8th September 2010 (Wednesday) Time: 7.00pm to 9.30pm Venue: 1 Marina Boulevard #22-00,MS Singapore – 22FC12 6.30pm: Registration 7.00pm: Session 1 – Kaspersky Open Space Security 8.15pm: Toilet/Stretching Break 8.30pm: Session 2 – Windows 7 Deployment Tools Update 9.30pm: Home Sweet Home Session 1 – Kapersky Abstract: In this session, Mr. Lim Thou Liang will cover in depth why Kaspersky is leading in the world’s top 4 anti-virus solution space with many renowned security vendors like Juniper, Blue Coat, Sybari, Clearswift etc who use their anti-virus engine. He will also demonstrate on the ease of management, administration and support of Kaspersky Central Admin Kit. Speaker’s Profile: Thou Liang graduated from University of New Castle, Australia with a degree in Bachelor of Engineering (Computer). He has over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, out of which more than 10 years of training experience in system courses, specializing in a complete range of Microsoft BackOffice products. As one of the pioneer MCTs and MCSE in Asia, Thou Liang has been an early starter in Microsoft technology. He is one of the leading IT Trainer/Consultant and has trained numerous IT professionals, both locally and around the S.E Asia region. Thou Liang’s other areas of expertise include NT, Windows 2000/2003/2008, SQL, Visual Basic, various versions of C language, Security, BizTalk Server, Datawarehousing, OLAP, XML and many more. His other exposure includes software development in the arena of C, C++, VB, VB .NET, and C# programming languages Session 2 – Windows 7 Deployment Tools Update Abstract: Join Jay in learning about the new updates made available in helping you deploy Windows 7 in the Enterprise. If you think you already know enough about deployment, think again. We will cover User-Driven Installation (UDI), a deployment framework that combines the flexibility of Lite touch Installation + Control and Automation of Zero Touch Installation. We will also learn how MAP 5.0 can help u do a readiness assessment for Office 2010, software usage tracking for Windows Server, Sharepoint Server, System Center Configuration Manager, Exchange Server and SQL Server. We end off with AppCompat Toolkit 5.6, which now includes Compatibility Testing for 64bit applications, additional detection for Windows 7 deprecated features. Join us, to learn about the updates, ask questions, and make the best use of the tools available to make your life easy. Registration For registration, please email to admin@sgwindowsgroup.org with the following: - SWUG ID - Name - Email Address Note: There won’t be an event confirmation. Just turn up, we don’t turn people away. However, please register if you’re coming.


SGDN - A Lap around Windows Azure - 2 Sept 2010
Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:45:29 +0000
SG Dot Net September UG Meeting September UG meeting will be held on 2nd September 2010 on this Thursday, at Level 21 Auditorium from 1845hrs – late. Light Refreshments will be served before the session. A Lap around Windows Azure   Wely Lau & Mohamed Faizal 1900 hrs – late The Windows Azure platform is a set of high-performance cloud computing services that can be used together or independently and enable developers to leverage existing skills and familiar tools to develop cloud applications. In this session, we’ll provide a developer-focused overview of


Singapore Management University hosts Microsoft's Overview of Windows Phone 7
Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:40:25 +0000
August 27th 2010, Singapore Management University hosts Microsoft’s Overview of Windows Phone 7 session. Within this two-hours session, Microsoft introduces the usage of Visual Studio and Expression Blend to students with working-through demo. Meanwhile, a lot of existing Silverlight and XNA applications are introduced to illustrate new level of functionality Windows Phone 7 could achieve . Most of students saw Windows Phone 7 for the first time and they checked it out after the session.


SGSQL - Aug 2010 - Getting Started with SQL Azure
Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:49:28 +0000
Getting Started with SQL Azure The excitement of cloud computing really changes people how to develop their application. Talking about application, it is almost impossible to proceed without the database. Microsoft® SQL Azure Database is a cloud-based relational database service built on SQL Server technologies. It provides a highly available, scalable, multi-tenant database service hosted by Microsoft in the cloud. SQL Azure Database helps to ease provisioning and deployment of multiple databases. Developers do not have to install, setup, patch or manage any software. High availability and fault tolerance is built-in and no physical administration is required. Customers can use existing knowledge in T-SQL development and a familiar relational data model for symmetry with existing on-premises databases. SQL Azure Database can help reduce costs by integrating with existing toolsets and providing symmetry with on-premises and cloud databases. Speaker profile: Name : Wely Blog   : http://wely-lau.net Prior joining NCS as a Cloud Solutions Architect, he worked as Developer Evangelist for Microsoft Indonesia. In NCS, he drives and realizes the adoption of Cloud Computing, specifically on Windows Azure platform. Creating cloud assessment program, migrating existing application to the cloud, developing new cloud application, and conducting cloud training are all his daily tasks in NCS. His passion in driving Microsoft technologies on both online and offline community activity make him awarded Microsoft MVP in Visual C# category. Date:     August 26th, 2010 Time:     7:00PM – 8:30 PM Registration starts at 6:30 PM Venue: NTUC Building 21nd Floor Microsoft Office One Marina Boulevard Please confirm your attendance by sending email to SGSQL@LIVE.COM


Windows Phone 7 : Style it using Expression Blend
Mon, 23 Aug 2010 02:13:07 +0000
Expression Blend 4 for Windows Phone provides the same streamlined development workflow for Windows Phone 7 that was previously only available for Silverlight and .NET applications. The ability to take your ideas all the way from concept to completion helps accelerate the delivery of innovative applications on Windows Phone. You can download Expression Blend 4 for Windows Phone Beta here. Now I will introduce some simple but useful tips for utilizing Expression Blend 4 for your Windows Phone Application.- Style your page element by using Expression Blend


MTUG - Aug 2010 - Exchange 2010 SP1 & New RPC Client Access Service
Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:19:57 +0000
Agenda for the Night  7:00 PM to 7:15PM - Registration 7:20 PM to 8:30PM – What’s new in Exchange 2010 SP 1(beta) by Triston 8:30 PM to 8:45PM - Toilet/Stretching Break 8:45PM to 10PM – Exchange 2010 and the new RPC client access service by Achinta  Abstract for What’s new in Exchange 2010 SP1(beta): This month we are going to peep into the public release of highly anticipated Exchange SP1(beta). We are going to talk about what are the new features that introduced in this Service Pack and what are advantages of them. Since this is a beta release, we are also going to talk about what are the known issues of this beta release. So join us in this month’s meet up and get to know more about this beta release. **Abstract for Exchange 2010 and the new RPC Client Access Service:**The session will cover in detail Exchange 2010 Client Access Server Arrays. A brief history will be provided on the client access architectures of Exchange 2007 ,2003 and 2000 and what has changed in the new Exchange 2010.What are the supported Outlook clients, Public folder connections and setting static RPC ports for MAPI connections will be conversed. There will be a brief discussion on how to provide true High availability for internal Outlook MAPI clients by combining CAS Array and Windows Network Load Balancing. Registration For registration, please email to tristonwan@gmail.com with the following:


Windows Phone 7 App – SG NRIC Checker
Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:49:21 +0000
Recently, I have been very much involved with Windows Phone 7. From developing Windows Phone 7 app for codeXtremeApps competition to listening Chris Ismael presenting about Windows Phone 7 in MSP meeting to coming up with developers’ bootcamp on Windows Phone 7 in my institution. Let me take you through how do we create a simple phone app which is a SG NRIC checker. Pratibha had written a blogpost here on the tools needed to develop for Windows Phone 7 platform. So once you have those, you can get started with the following steps to create this app - Step 1: Open Visual studio 2010, click on New Project and select Silverlight for Windows Phone and Windows Phone Application. You may want to rename it to NRICCheckerWP7  Step 2: Notice that it will open up a default Mainpage.xaml. This is again, a template used for developing WP7 Applications. Now, go to “Toolbox”, drag and drop again, a textbox and a button into the phone.  Step 3: Rename the button to btnCheck and insert Check as the text. Rename the textbox to txtNRIC by editing their properties via properties window after you click on the respective controls. Step 4: Again, double click on the Check button. This will lead us the part where we do our logic. Lets change the event handler. You should have this after you change it. [cc lang=‘csharp’ ] private void btnCheck_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) { if (txtNRIC.Text.Length == 9) { string inputIC = txtNRIC.Text; string nric = "" + inputIC[1] + inputIC[2] + inputIC[3] + inputIC[4] + inputIC[5] + inputIC[6] + inputIC[7]; string lastLetter = "" + inputIC[8]; checkNRIC(nric, lastLetter); } else { MessageBox.Show(“Invalid NRIC”); } } [/cc] Step 5: You will realise that you are missing the checkNRIC method which takes in a string nric and a string lastLetter. checkNRIC is where we put in the logics for checking if the NRIC is valid or invalid. Do a search online and you can find the algorithms for checkNRIC. These are the 2 methods needed. Copy and paste this in. [cc lang=‘csharp’ ] private void checkNRIC(string s, string lastLetter) { int sum, remainder; int[] weight = new int[7]; string outputletters = “JZIHGFEDCBA”; string nric; sum = 0; weight[0] = 2; for (int i = 1; i < 7; i++) { weight[i] = 8 - i; } if (IsInteger(s) == true) { nric = s; for (int i = 0; i < 7; i++) { sum += Int32.Parse(nric[i].ToString()) * weight[i]; } remainder = sum % 11; if (lastLetter.ToUpper() == outputletters[remainder].ToString().ToUpper()) { MessageBox.Show(“Valid IC”); } else { MessageBox.Show(“Invalid IC”); } } } public bool IsInteger(string theValue) { try { Convert.ToInt32(theValue); return true; } catch { return false; } } [/cc] Lastly, go ahead and click on Ctrl + F5!!! As you can see here, this is just a very simple app with very basic checking. You should be able to improvise here and be creative and do much stuff to it! J - Guo Hong Lim & Koh Kiat Siang, Temasek Polytechnic Student Partner Leads


Windows Phone 7 Developer's Session By Singapore Poly MSPs
Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:31:00 +0000
After a month odd of preparation, we finally pulled it off – a Windows Phone 7 Developers’ session right here in our campus: Singapore Polytechnic.
We had a huge list of sign ups, so we changed our plans and split the originally planned single session into two concurrent sessions. Out of the 60+ registrations, 30 turned up for the event. The participants were then split up such that each room engaged only 15 participants.


Windows Phone 7 – My First Phone App!
Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:16:50 +0000
After much procrastination, I started to create my first Windows Phone 7 application this week. To be honest I did not think it would be an easy task given that it has been quite a while since I last opened visual studio to code something(much of my time has been spent admiring apps written by the amazing Imagine cup competitors;-)). Well, but I decided to take the plunge, and to my complete surprise I wrote my first app in flat 15 minutes. Hence this blog post, coz I believe my example should inspire several others to start writing apps for the new and upcoming Windows Phone 7 platform using cool technologies such as Silverlight and XNA. Let me walk you through the steps I took to get started – 1. The first thing I had to do was of course to download the much talked about tools for Windows Phone 7. It was a totally painless experience to download and run the setup on my Windows 7 PC. The set up installed the following components for me in less than 5 minutes.


SharepointPros - Aug 2010 - Infopath Forms + Workflows = Business Applications
Fri, 06 Aug 2010 01:37:08 +0000
InfoPath 2010 and SharePoint 2010 Productivity Riwut Libinuko, MVP SharePoint Server Microsoft InfoPath 2010 provides easier way than ever to design electronic forms. It includes Office Fluent UI which allows us to create powerful, interactive forms without having to write any code. This session will show how to use InfoPath 2010 and SharePoint 2010 to increase your productivity in solution delivery. Formatted mostly as on stage scenario – demos , we are expecting to expose all new functionalities. InfoPath Forms + SharePoint Workflows = Business Applications Hoo Kai Sheng, K2 As an application platform, SharePoint comes with a wide collection of building blocks that enables both business and technical users to create applications to suit varying business needs. We will be exploring forms and worklows in SharePoint - two commonly seen building blocks in a business application and review how can they be combined to establish high performance SharePoint solutions with the minimal effort possible. Refreshments will be provided, courtesy of K2 Singapore. Please RSVP to ssofian@mvps.org to confirm your attendance


Catch NDP2010 Live on xinmsn
Thu, 05 Aug 2010 06:10:43 +0000
We are excited to announce the lanuch of the National Day Parade 2010 live telecast site http://xinmsn.com/ndp2010/. For the past couple of weeks, our team has been working closely with the MediaCorp and NCS folks to build the site that provide live video feeds from all six NDP venues (Padang, Eunos, Woodlands, Choa Chu Kang, Bishan and Seng Kang).   In addition to watching the live telecast, visitors can have an interactive panoramic experience (essentially [Photosynth](We have incorporated Photosynth imagery so that )) of each of the venue by visiting the “Photo 360” link. During the live event, visitors may share their thoughts and invite friends to join them through Facebok Connect.   Another intersting bits of the site is the ShakeUp App - a mini game (running on both web and mobile phones) that let users contribute points to their geographical zones. To download the app to your mobile, simply SMS “NDP” to 75500.  Please spread the news, encourage your friends and family to visit the site to watch the live telecast and to try out the cool features =) http://xinmsn.com/ndp2010/


Free Training: Creating Applications for Windows Phone 7 using Silverlight
Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:26:01 +0000
UPDATE: Training agenda and venue updated here - http://wp7sg.community.officelive.com/CreatingAppsforWP7UsingSilverlight.aspx
Hot on the heels of our recently successful WP7 XNA training, we are providing you with another Windows Phone 7 2-day Hands on Lab on Aug 12 – 13.  This time we’ll teach you how to create apps for WP7 using Silverlight.  We are still polishing the agenda, but you can start to register here.  (You know the drill, provide us with a good reason for us to secure you a slot )


Catching up with SQL 2008 R2
Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:44:54 +0000
My first brush with SQL was in 1996, with SQL 6.5. It was known as the “mickey mouse” database for some reasons i couldn’t understand then (well, i was still a student u know). I had huge respects for DBA (Database Administrators) and earned my first DBA Certification (MCDBA) from Microsoft in 2002. And subsequently upgraded my certifications several rounds. Yes, i’m on my next round of certification updates. This time i’m eyeing on SQL Server 2008 R2. From a simple database server to now, it has grown so much (Felt like my brains are swelling from picking it up). I just wanted to share a very cool set of resources that i picked up on Channel 9. It is a Developers Training Course for SQL Server 2008 R2. Supposedly to be meant for developers, but i felt IT Pros benefits from understanding the information too. (Warning to IT Pros: Might be a bit too developer focused. Good for DBAs to know the capabilities). To make it easy, i’m listing the topics here. But do visit the main page for a collection;


MesssagingTalk - Jul 2010 - High Availability Tonight!
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:52:19 +0000
Session 1: 7.15pm to 8.30pm Abstract for Exchange 2010 High Availablity for CAS and Hub Transport Server by: Speaker: Shaji Firoz This month we are going to touch on recommended way to deploy CAS / HUB servers with HA in mind to provide various Exchange services like OWA, Outlook Anywhere, Autodiscover, Free Busy, etc.  Also Shaji will discuss on the importance of implementing Reverse Proxy technology and the need to place  hardware Load balancer in the architect design and certificate requirements for various Exchange services. This will offer load balancing across CAS/Hub Servers to overcome the native Windows Network Load Balance shortfall.  He will share with us on how users get to use 2 factor authentication when they access company mail using OWA from Public places. About Shaji Firoz: Shaji Firoz is a Senior Consultant working for IT Outsourcing company in Singapore. Shaji works mostly on Microsoft Technologies - with keen on messaging environment. He leads the development & implementation efforts in Exchange & Active Directory environments. He authors MS Exchange based technical articles in this site and spends time on blogging about Hosted Exchange in msexchange.org blog section. In recognition of his knowledge of Windows & Exchange Servers and his willingness to share the information and help to community, Microsoft recognized him with MVP in Exchange Server. Session 2: 8.45pm to 10pm Abstract for Exchange 2010 High Availability for Mailbox Server (DAG): Speaker: Triston Wan This topic will share with you on how Exchange 2010 High Availability for Mailbox role (DAG) was architected. How this new HA solution will help companies achieve its highest availability with the lower cost. The speaker will discuss how simple it is to implement DR solution as compared to the early versions of Exchange server. You will also learn  DAG designs based on different scenarios that Enterprises could consider and why backup is not required with Exchange 2010. We will also deep-dive into DAG solution with more details. About Triston Wan: Wan Ziyang (Triston) is Sr.Consultant with a System Integrator based in Singapore. He is MCSE since year 2005 and MVP in Exchange Server. Triston leads Singapore MessagingTalk User Group activities where folks interested in Microsoft Messaging Technologies gather for learning and networking. He has done several implementation on various versions of Exchange Servers. He is also Redhat Certified Engineer on EL4.  Registration For registration, please email to tristonwan@gmail.com.com with the following:


Free Training: Creating Games for Windows Phone 7 using XNA
Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:03:01 +0000
*IMPORTANT UPDATE* 
For those who have received confirmation for Day 2 training, we are moving to Avantus Training.  Address below:
Avantus Training
79 Robinson Road CPF Building
068897
====
Developers!  Want to learn how you can create games for Windows Phone 7 using XNA? We have just the session for you.  We have limited seats so start registering here!
Creating Games for Windows Phone 7: Jump Start
Day 1 (Maximum 60 seats)
July 29, 2010
9.00am – 9.15am


Free Panorama Software - Microsoft ICE
Sat, 17 Jul 2010 06:56:43 +0000
Microsoft Image Composite Editor is an advanced panoramic image stitcher. Given a set of overlapping photographs of a scene shot from a single camera location, the application creates a high-resolution panorama that seamlessly combines the original images. The stitched panorama can be shared with friends and viewed in 3D by uploading it to the Photosynth web site. Or the panorama can be saved in a wide variety of image formats, from common formats like JPEG and TIFF to the multiresolution tiled format used by Silverlight’s Deep Zoom and by the HD View and HD View SL panorama viewers.


Integrate Bing Maps with PHP
Sat, 17 Jul 2010 06:00:19 +0000
Microsoft provides Virtual Earth Integration Kit for PHP to integrate Bing Map Applition into PHP pages. Microsoft’s Virtual Earth is an example of an element of the Microsoft platform which can be consumed by and integrated into PHP web sites. The Virtual Earth API is exposed through a Javascript library making it straightforward to integrate into any web based application. There are multiple choices for environment set up: Linux/Apache, Windows/Apache or Windows/IIS. Both IIS and Apache use port 80 as default port. Therefore, if you have both server running on your machine, you may want to change one of the port to avoid conflict. Also, you will need PHP 5.2 and MySql for set-up.


Windows Phone Developer Tools Beta Released
Tue, 13 Jul 2010 04:54:42 +0000
 Good news everyone! Last night at the Worldwide Partner Conference 2010 in Washington, DC, we have released the Beta version of the Windows Phone Developer Tools.  You might remember that our last update prior to this was the April CTP version.  So what does this mean to you developers?

If you are currently building on the April CTP version, you may want to uninstall that and install the Beta version from http://developer.windowsphone.com/ .  For those who have not downloaded it yet, now’s the good time to install. It’s important to go through the breaking changes listed in the release notes, but you can also check Jaime Rodriguez’ “Migrating apps from Windows Phone April CTP Refresh to the beta build” for easier reading.
Everyone’s been asking us where they could attend a WP7 training.  Well aside from the Training Kit, forums, and other resources to help you skill up on WP7 development, you can register for these free virtual WP7 Jump Start trainings scheduled from July 20 – July 22.  Click here to register!
A lot of you also inquired if they can get their own device to test on.  That’s a bit of a challenge right now.  But through the WP7 Call for Proposal which we ran recently, we were able to identify companies who are serious in building WP7 apps, and pick out the ones who will be prioritized for these devices.  We are now engaging with most of them on a 1-to-1 basis.

Take note:


SharepointPros - July 2010 - Scaling your Infrastructure & Claims Authentication
Mon, 05 Jul 2010 08:01:45 +0000
 
Singapore SharePoint Community
Date
08 July 2010
Time
06:45 PM – 9:30PM
Location
Microsoft Singapore Level 22 CF-12
 
 
Scalable SharePoint Infrastructure Management William Tay, Microsoft Singapore Come by and enjoy a highly-interactive session with William as he talks about the latest and neatest trick in the Microsoft Business Intelligence stack called PowerPivot and how it fits into the entire Microsoft Business Intelligence solution – and more importantly, how it democratize Business Intelligence in the enterprise with the Microsoft belief of BI for the Masses. Introduction to Claims Authentication in SharePoint 2010 Chyan Yee Goh, Microsoft Consulting Services  When it comes to identity management intensive applications, it’s hard to top SharePoint. Whether you are signing in a portal, accessing a document or using a webpart for reaching out to external web services, your identity is going to be the factor that drives it all. In this session, we will give an overview of how claims based authentication is used in SharePoint 2010 and how this opens up opportunities for authentication scenarios that were not possible before. Refreshments will be provided, courtesy of AvePoint Singapore. Please RSVP to ssofian@mvps.org to confirm your attendance.  And reserve your SharePoint 2010 shirt.  Whilst stocks last.


SG DotNet - July 2010 - Schema (XSD) Based WCF Service using Entity Framework
Mon, 05 Jul 2010 07:53:46 +0000
July UG MeetingJuly UG meeting will be held on 8th July 2010 Thurs, at Level 21 Auditorium from 1845hrs – late. Light Refreshments will be served before the session. Schema (XSD) Based WCF Service using Entity Framework Senthamil Selvan 1900hrs – late For developing a XML based Business Models XSD plays a major role in exposing the business entities. WCF Operation Contract can be validated against the xsd using Message Inspector without even entering into the method call. Also primitive data type and the mandatory field validation can be performed at the xsd level. These validation can be changed without changing a code. EF will be used to save the business object from XML to DB. Speaker Profile


Team Singapore off to Poland for Imagine Cup Finals!
Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:33:46 +0000
The day has finally arrived. The Singapore contingent is headed to Poland tonight for the Imagine Cup 2010 worldwide finals. How many people this year are traveling to Poland to represent Singapore besides myself? 7 students and 2 faculty. We also have a judge from Singapore (Gwendolyn, from Thymos Capital and SGEntrepreneurs) who has reached there today for pre-event briefings. The excitement and anxiety is at its peak, and we all hope to give it our best! If you would like to follow what’s happening to us over there during this week, we will be posting updates at our Imagine Cup Singapore Facebook Page as well as tweeting on our Innovative Singapore Twitter feed. Make sure you follow us! There will also be LIVE streaming of the awards ceremony on July 8th at 4 pm GMT on the Imagine Cup homepage, so you can experience everything as it happens. For those of you who are timezone-challenged like myself, it’s 12 midnight here in Singapore on July 8th. :) Wish us luck!


Windows Live Messenger Connect Beta Released
Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:55:40 +0000
Microsoft announced last week the Beta release of  Windows Live Messenger Connect. It enables websites and rich-client applications to enhance the social appeal of their experience by “connecting” to Windows Live.
If you can’t wait and just want to get started, visit the Windows Live Developer Center.
Messenger Connect is a collection of APIs and controls that allow you to build applications so people can communicate, and share with their Messenger friends. Applications build with Messenger Connect provide seamless social experience that combines your content with popular Windows Live features such as chatting with friends, sharing status updates and activity streams.


Application Life-Cycle Management (ALM) Solution Briefing
Thu, 01 Jul 2010 06:09:32 +0000
Free Installation of Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate 90 days Trial

Innovative applications can catapult your business forward providing you with a competitive advantage. Microsoft’s Visual Studio Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) solution allows you to realize the strategic value of your custom software investments.
Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 is an interoperable family of products that help make it easier to create, test and deliver custom software solutions. A rich set of integrated tools and server infrastructure coupled with flexible and agile process’s that represent a breakthrough for development tools, help you manage and optimize your entire software development process. This event gives you a valuable opportunity to learn more about how Microsoft’s Visual Studio Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) solution can help you reduce cost, reduce development time, increase quality, and improve project visibility and manageability. To register for this event email Sandy at MSmarketing@swap.com.sg or call for more information at +65 6227 7445.


Project Nimbus: One Marina Boulevard Map Application
Tue, 22 Jun 2010 09:52:54 +0000
Project Nimbus is an effort to get more data sets online and accessible for innovators to build on. With the available data sets we have, the Project Nimbus team wanted to create an application which not only uses data just from one provider but mashing up different data sets together to make handy applications. We came out with this application to help you locate us better! Enter the location you are coming from and the application will route you straight to us showing you the traffic images along the route. What’s more? When you do visit us, it gives you an overview of the restaurants around Microsoft Innovative Centre Singapore to satisfy your hunger. How was the application implemented? 1. Get an application key – Email projectnimbus@live.com.sg to get your key. 2. Add in the AccountKey & UniqueUserID into the request header.


Singapore Silverlight User Group June 2010 Meetup
Mon, 21 Jun 2010 09:40:14 +0000
Hey guys! The Silverlight User Group will be having a their June Meetup at Hackerspace. You can find out all the details here! Date: 24th June, 2010 Time: 7:30 PM – 10:00 PM Location: Hackerspace Presentation : WCF RIA Services on Silverlight 4.0 Microsoft WCF RIA Services simplifies the traditional n-tier application pattern by bringing together the ASP.NET and Silverlight platforms. RIA Services provides a pattern to write application logic that runs on the mid-tier and controls access to data for queries, changes and custom operations. About the Presenter ~


Add Bing Maps Streetside to your Web Application
Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:00:29 +0000
The local Singapore street view map will be provided by Microsoft soon on Bing Maps. It will be a good time for you to think of plugging Streetside view to your webpage or application to enhance your customer experience. If you have read Chris Pendleton’s Bing Maps Blog, you may find out some problems with the initial installation part. This article provides more details on installations and future developments. Firstly, there are three things you need to install as references to run Bing Maps on Silverlight.


ABOVE Solutions Announces TangoFX™ Application for Windows Phone 7
Fri, 18 Jun 2010 06:00:26 +0000
 ABOVE Solutions today announced the first interactive media application, TangoFX™, on Windows Phone 7.  TangoFX is a context aware interactive service that provides live and on-demand cinematic experiences for viewers to watch their favorite content anywhere, anytime and on any screen. Through the Microsoft BizSpark program, ABOVE worked closely with Microsoft to develop TangoFX and create a world-class media application for the upcoming Windows Phone 7 platform. TangoFX is also the industry’s first open standards-based real-time collaborative interactive media platform. The software platform runs an advanced user interface and video applications in a limited memory footprint, allowing for optimal implementation on a variety of network and devices. Using smart on-screen widgets, the interactive service enhances the cinematic experience by allowing viewers to connect with friends and family, and pick, share and discuss scenes of mutual interest while watching live or on-demand content.  The interactive service leverages several patent-pending technologies to provide individual and shared interactive program guides that allow viewers to completely personalize their viewing experience to match their media & entertainment lifestyle. TangoFX is built on a next generation interactive media platform that is customizable for telecom carriers, content providers, and social media networks. Poonacha Machaiah, Chairman & CEO of ABOVE Solutions had this to say about the TangoFX platform:


Imagine Cup 2010 is a Wrap!
Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:13:49 +0000

Two weeks ago, we held our Imagine Cup 2010 Awards Ceremony at Marina Bay Sands. The special guest of course, is none other than the CEO of Microsoft himself, Steve Ballmer. The event was attended by over 600 academics and students from IHLs in Singapore, as they experienced a demo fest of Microsoft’s latest technologies, and witnessed the crowning of Singapore’s top software design team, Mama-Bear from Temasek Polytechnic, who will represent us in Poland come July. Hosted by John Fernandes, the event also awarded Hu Zhengbin from Nanyang Polytechnic with the IT Challenge Award. Zhengbin is currently ranked top 3 in the world, and will slug it out in Poland to see how he ranks on the global stage. Three students also posed a variety of questions to Steve that ranged from questions on his ambitions as a teenager, our cloud computing strategy and some of the key learnings he has had as CEO. Steve had a great time interacting with the students and vice versa as they shared a couple of lighter moments during the award ceremony and Q&A. Congratulations to Zhengbin and Mama-Bear, and a very big thanks to IDA and Nanyang Technological University for making Imagine Cup 2010 happen! See you guys next year! For those of you who missed the event, here are the videos from the event: [vimeo]http://vimeo.com/12297285[/vimeo] [vimeo]http://vimeo.com/12283185[/vimeo] [vimeo]http://vimeo.com/12197623[/vimeo] Click below to see a slideshow of all of the photos we took from the event (close to 400): [iframe: title =“Preview” scrolling=“no” marginheight=“0” marginwidth=“0” frameborder=“0” style=“width:122px;height:137px;padding:0;background-color:#fcfcfc;” src=“http://cid-dda3d8710dc750f8.photos.live.com/embedalbum.aspx/Imagine%20Cup%202010%20Awards%20Ceremony"]


Singapore Windows IT Pro User Group - June Meet Up
Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:16:34 +0000
Session 1 – Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service Abstract: AD LDS provides directory storage and access for applications, AD LDS uses the same standard application programming interfaces (APIs) as Active Directory to manage and access the application data. The resulting conceptual and programming compatibility makes AD LDS ideal for applications that require directory services, but do not require the complete infrastructure features of Active Directory. Skill Level: 200-350 (Intermediate to Advance) Session 2 – Infrastructure Troubleshooting Abstract: Regardless of how well your infrastructure is designed, mysterious problems always plague Systems Engineers and Administrators. There are a myriad of tools to use, but which is the right one? Using the right tool is crucial is finding out what is wrong and how to fix it. This session introduces Advanced Troubleshooting Tools followed by Debugging techniques to troubleshoot User Mode problems which includes LeakDiag, Process Explorer, Process Monitor, ADPlus utility and Windbg. We will also do an elementary debugging techniques using Windbg. Skill Level: 200-350 (Intermediate to Advance) Registration For registration, please email to swug@mvps.org with the following: - SWUG ID - Name - Email Address Note: There won’t be an event confirmation. Just turn up, we don’t turn people away. However, please register if you’re coming


Microsoft Web Camp
Fri, 04 Jun 2010 11:21:01 +0000

We’ve got something really cool for you guys this June!  James Senior (Microsoft’s “Social Web Guy”) is flying to Singapore to deliver a developer camp-style event called Web Camp. What is Web Camp? Web Camp is a free 2-day web developer event intended to educate web developers about the Microsoft Web Platform, including trending topics like ASP.NET MVC Web Forms, ASP.NET MVC, jQuery, Entity Framework, IIS, Visual Studio 2010 and much more. Who should go to Web Camp? Web Camp is for all web developers.  Whether you’re currently working with PHP, Ruby, ASP or older versions of ASP.NET; or if you want to be updated with the new technologies on the Microsoft Web Platform, in an interactive environment where you can get down and dirty with your fellow web developers amongst Microsoft experts, then the Microsoft Web Camp is for you. Registrations are open! Check out the agenda and register here. See you there!


Bing Search Library for PHP
Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:41:21 +0000
Today is Friday, and if you are a PHP developer with nothing to do this coming weekend, here is a new API library that you can try out over the next couple days. We are happy to announce a new Bing Search Library for PHP,available on Codeplex.com under an open source BSD license. From the project homepage on Codeplex.com:

The Bing Search Library for PHP allows you to easily use Bing’s API to fetch search results and use in your own PHP application.  The library for PHP is designed to give PHP developers an object-oriented interface to access the Bing API. It supports fluent interfaces in PHP so that options can be easily chained together for readability.


Unlocking the Potential of Touch Technology
Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:44:08 +0000
 Since the launch of Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system, we have witnessed a phenomenal demand for the progress towards Natural User Interfaces. There are now new generation of PCs enabled with multi-touch functions and touch-optimized applications being released as you read this. The market for touch PCs is heating up. About 10 percent of new PC models in 2010 will support touch technology, says Amy Leong, research director at Gartner Research. “In the next few years, we are going to see touch technologies being tested and deployed for many applications. More than 6 million PCs with touch screens will ship in 2010, nearly four times more than in 2008.” Microsoft has worked closely with HP, one of our largest partner PC manufacturers, during the development of Windows 7 to ensure hardware design presents a flawless symbiosis of software and hardware integration. This collaboration between Microsoft and HP result in a truly intuitive, innovative and engaging computing experience that brings technology to life in ways never available before to a mainstream consumer audience. To further unlock the potential of HP’s touch-enabled hardware and TouchSmart 3.0 software together with Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system, HP is now seeking software developers to join the HP TouchExchange Programme in creating cutting edge and functional applications that will revolutionize the future of the touch technology and bring new innovations to consumers. If your application holds commercial potential, HP may provide you with a HP TouchSmart PC and a sizeable start-up capital to help you develop your application and commercialize it in the market. With the wide range of touch-ready Windows 7-based computers coming to market this year, with some priced low enough to put touch within just about everyone’s reach, it offers great potential for you to showcase your solutions to a huge audience. The Windows 7 Multitouch Platform is a very powerful development platform. Microsoft with HP aim to provide you the necessary support and resources to help you succeed, connect with the relevant business partners and expand your market reach. For more details on the HP TouchExchange programme initiative, please read here. The Microsoft Innovation Centre is more than willing to help you achieve success.


Touch Dimensions Featured in TODAYonline
Mon, 31 May 2010 17:32:42 +0000

Over this past weekend, local game development company Touch Dimensions was featured in an article in TODAYonline. The key part of the report:

Microsoft has commissioned Touch Dimensions to create some 20 free casual entertainment applications that run on the Windows Mobile operating system. These range from a digital sketchpad to a Whack-A-Mole-type game that lets you smack mosquitoes to oblivion.

This piece of news has gotten a fair bit of coverage over the weekend, and been picked up by both WMExperts and WMPoweruser.com. (Incidentally, is it just me or does it feel like nowadays every article that appears on WMExperts will also appear on WMPoweruser.com, and vice versa?) The TODAYonline report further states:


Microsoft Tag for Developers
Fri, 28 May 2010 17:11:19 +0000

Eighteen months of incubation and one billion printed Tags later, Microsoft Tag is finally coming out of beta. (If you are not sure what Tag is, it’s basically an advanced mobile bar code technology that allows you to use some very nifty custom designs as 2D bar codes.) The basic Tag services are still free of charge, including creating a standard Tag, reviewing standard analytics, and using the Tag Reader application. The Tag team also plans to add other value-added features over time such as advanced  reporting and analytics and real-time location services. As part of this launch, Microsoft Tag also offers the following new features:


Windows Phone 7 Spotted at the Microsoft Innovation Centre!
Mon, 24 May 2010 07:00:42 +0000
It seems that Christmas has come early for us here at the Microsoft Innovation Centre! Look at what we found last week:

Yes, this is none other than the prototype LG Panther devices that have been seen in the wild for the past week or so. Here are some more photos, including the box that it came in: [gallery link=“file” columns=“3” orderby=“rand” exclude=“776,807”] Where did we get these devices from? Well, we wished we could say that we found it at a local Starbucks because someone left it there after a caffeine high, but in reality these were sent to us so we can start testing our Windows Phone 7 applications in Singapore on an actual device instead of only using the emulator. A few early observations:


Talking Microsoft Cloud to Electrical Engineers
Thu, 20 May 2010 10:24:17 +0000
Last night, I was invited by IEEE GOLD to speak at a cloud computing event they organized for their members. They wanted me to share with them about what Microsoft was doing in cloud computing. (For those who don’t know, IEEE GOLD stands for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Graduates Of Last Decade. That’s a long name!) I didn’t know what to expect, since I was told the audience would be a mix of current students, graduated students, researchers, faculty, alumni and industry people. And being an IEEE event, it meant that most of the audience came from an electrical engineering background, instead of an IT background like the technical audiences we normally reach out to. I mean, do electrical engineers really care about cloud computing? Well, surprisingly (to me), yes! As I sort of expected, the audience got the most excited when I spoke about the massive investment that Microsoft is putting into building data centers all around the world. I spoke about how Microsoft is using 4th-generation data center designs and cutting-edge technology allows Microsoft to achieve an average PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) of 1.22 in their data centers. (As a reference, Google’s twelve-month energy-weighted average PUE is around 1.18. We are only a little bit behind. :)) And as expected, the PUE discussion triggered off a flurry of questions and further discussions around how PUE is measured and optimized in data centers. All in all it was a great night of conversation with a very passionate audience that was very engaged. Here are the slides that I used for the presentation last night: [slideshare id=4168237&doc=microsoftandthecloud-jonathanwong-100520005112-phpapp01]


A Day in the Life in Cloud Interoperability
Thu, 20 May 2010 03:53:51 +0000
There is a lot of excitement in the benefits that cloud computing promises to bring to society. However, what’s equally important is the notion of cloud interoperability, or the ability of one cloud to work with other platforms and applications and not just with other clouds. This is paramount if we want to realize the full potential of cloud computing and all the benefits that it can bring to us. At Microsoft, our approach to cloud interoperability is based on openness - i.e. documenting the proprietary protocols of our leading products, making sure open source technologies work with our technologies, and most importantly, support popular standards in our products and services. We’ve said in the past that we take a pragmatic approach to interoperability. The same holds true for our approach to interoperability in the cloud. Cloud interoperability is hard work, but we strive to provide the world’s best platforms, not only for Microsoft’s technologies, but for everyone else’s too. To help you understand some of the cloud interoperability scenarios that Microsoft helps enable, here is a nice infographic to illustrate a day in the life of Isabela Interop, a busy environmental studies researcher who like many of us, has busy days juggling work and family. Let’s look how interoperable technology is connecting Isabela to her work, family and community.


Windows Phone 7 Call for Proposals!
Tue, 18 May 2010 07:00:19 +0000
Last week (May 13), we launched the Windows Phone 7 Call for Proposal with Expara under the i.Match BizMatch program.  i.Match BizMatch is a platform that facilitates collaboration opportunities between Media Content and Digital Media (IDM) companies by introducing them to leading industry partners. Aspiring applicants for the WP7 CFP will receive technical guidance/training from the Microsoft Innovation Centre, as well as access to hardware and software resources to support their WP7 development process. The event was opened by Douglas Abrams from Expara, and followed by myself to discuss about the support provided by the CFP.  A total of 8 companies did a verbal pitch in front of Microsoft panelists, who are all involved with Windows Phone 7.  As promised, we had a hearty pizza and networking session right after.  All in all, it was a successful event and we look forward to working with the interested parties we have met. The deadline for submission is June 30th.  You can check this previous post here to check out the details of the CFP and upcoming WP7 events.  If you are keen to submit, please fill up the form here and send it to the email address indicated in the form.  (Tip: We really would love to see some prototypes running on the emulator, so it’s a big plus if you can include snapshots) That’s about it!  And for developers out there, we’ve included below some really useful links and tips to aid you on your WP7 development.  (Don’t forget to check out the upcoming WP7 events here, and a link to my Source Code folder in this post.) Useful links and tips:


Socialwok Brings Facebook-like Sharing to Office 2010
Fri, 14 May 2010 10:00:05 +0000
With Microsoft Office 2010 officially launching this week, everyone here at Microsoft HQ in Singapore has reason to be excited. According to Forrester Research, 81% of surveyed enterprises are running Office 2007 today with at least a third of the respondents already planning to upgrade to Office 2010 within the next 12 months. The enthusiasm from customers is understandable, since Office 2010 is more than just an evolutionary update, but includes revolutionary new features such as Office Web Apps and the new Outlook Social Connector. At the Microsoft Innovation Centre, we are particularly excited about the Outlook Social Connector feature, because not only has it been useful to us by bringing social networking functionality (from services like LinkedIn) into Outlook 2010, but it also offers an opportunity for our partners to extend the functionality of Outlook 2010 to other online services as well. And one of our Singapore-based BizSpark startups has done just that. Socialwok describes itself as a service which “was created to allow organizations to harness the ease and power of rich media and feeds to improve collaboration and communication.”  Winners of the TechCrunch 2009 Demopit Award, Socialwok provides a Facebook-like collaboration and sharing service for both enterprises and SMBs. And with Socialwok’s new (beta) Outlook Social Connector that they released today, Office customers can also now tap into the Socialwok service right from within Outlook 2010 (it works in Outlook 2003 and 2007 as well). Interestingly, Socialwok started out its life as a service specifically designed with Google Apps integration in mind, and even today, it’s running on Google App Engine. However, the Socialwok service today doesn’t require you to be using Google Apps or have a Google ID in order to use their service. Ming Yong, Socialwok CEO describes his commitment to the Microsoft platform:


{Community} Technology Update 2010
Thu, 13 May 2010 03:12:48 +0000

The Singapore user group communities, Professional .NET User Group, SQL Server User Group, and Windows IT Pros User Group, once again, have come together to bring to you a day of in-depth sessions and demonstrations of the newMicrosoft SQL Server 2008 R2 and Visual Studio 2010.
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 is packed with a wealth of new features and capabilities that can help organizations to scale with confidence on a trusted platform, improve IT and developer efficiency, and enable self service business intelligence. The benefits of the enhanced capabilities extend to application and multi-server management, complex event processing, master data services and powerful BI tools. Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 is an integrated environment that simplifies the whole development lifecycle, from design to development. Developers can use existing skills to model, code, debug and deploy a growing number of applications types. With SQL Server 2008 R2 and Visual Studio 2010, users will be able to create compelling applications that deliver business value soonest while maintaining the quality and integrity of your IT assets. Why should you attend the event:


Imagine Cup 2010 Award Ceremony
Wed, 05 May 2010 08:25:00 +0000

Imagine Cup 2010 for Singapore closes on May 26. Find out how these students worked on solving the world’s toughest problems with the power of technology. Root for the young innovators who will represent Singapore in the world wide finals, join us at an exclusive technology extravaganza. This year, Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Singapore, Steve Ballmer will be presenting the prizes to the winners. Make sure you don’t miss this event! Register to Imagine Cup 2010 Award Ceremony Here!


Windows Phone 7 Events in May 2010
Wed, 05 May 2010 04:30:43 +0000
*Updated post with link to Mobile Monday event, see below*
Hi guys, following our April events, here’s the schedule for May!  We hope to see you all in these events.  The April CTP Refresh is also out so be sure to check that out.  See below for more info.

WP7 events for May:

May 13 – i.Match Business Matching
May 22 – Community Tech Update
May 27 – Developer Garage
May 31 – Mobile Monday Singapore

Reminder: For the i.Match Business Matching, you still need to RSVP if you are attending as audience.  So we know how many pizzas to order. ;)


Media Delivery with Windows Server 2008
Mon, 03 May 2010 03:52:55 +0000

I was sharing with SWUG just last week about delivering videos using Windows Server 2008. I was very surprised to learn that many do not know that Windows Server has the ability to deliver videos. I have shared many examples of local deployment of Windows Server 2008 to host video files. This short presentation (about 1 hr), I shared about using Windows Server 2008, loaded with Streaming Media Services and using IIS Smooth media streaming. The session included an overview and also how to setup. It look merely 15 mins to setup both up on the same server. ;-) Easy and fast. Of course, there are a lot more. Anyway, i am sharing my deck of slides used during the session. Feel free to see this video (Example of IIS 7 + Smooth Media Streaming): http://fab.pingdennis.com This is a demo site i use to show IIS7, so might be up or down. :-)


Armor Valley Among Top 20 Finalists in Dream-Build-Play 2010 Challenge
Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:45:03 +0000
We caught up recently with Janelle, CEO of Protege Production (a Microsoft BizSpark startup) and Robin Tan, the Creative/Technical Director, after being included among the top 20 finalists of the Dream-Build-Play 2010 Challenge for their game Armor Valley.  Below is an email interview with her: “Congratulations for being among the top 20 in DBP 2010! Quite a feat indeed, besting the other games around the world! I remember you telling us before that this year would be a challenging one because you mentioned being ‘blown away’ with the other entries you saw. What are your thoughts about that now? Anything in particular that you think propelled you to Top 20?”


We've Been Hacked!
Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:02:36 +0000
Oh no! What’s happening to our site? UPDATE: Thankfully, we were able to restore our site from a recent backup. However we were able to get a screen capture of the site before it was compromised. Phew! Glad everything is finally back to normal. UPDATE 2: It seems that the Internet Archive was also able to get a snapshot of our site before we restored it. Check it out at the link below: http://web.archive.org/web/20100428113644/https://www.weshipcode.com/ Security is no joke, people. I’m going to make sure that I install the free Microsoft Security Essentials on all of my PCs from now on… :) UPDATE 3: For those who haven’t figured it out yet - no, we have not been hacked. Don’t worry, the Windows Server 2008 box that is hosting this blog is safe and sound. :) Anyway, I hope hackers today have better taste than to deface websites with Geocities-like colors and buttons. To get your own defaced website, try out the Geocities-izer, created by WONDER-TONIC.


Windows Azure @ PHP User Group
Wed, 28 Apr 2010 08:28:37 +0000
[gallery link=“file” orderby=“rand”] (Check out more photos of the event here.) Last night, we hosted the Singapore PHP User Group (or the Philosophy in Programming Society, as they like to be called) at our office for their monthly meet-up. There were two presentations during the event. I presented on using the Windows Azure Platform with PHP, and Chin Yong presented on APC (Alternative PHP Cache – no, not Armored Personnel Carrier) Here are our presentation slides: [slideshare id=3869311&doc=phpugwindowsazurephpjonathanwong-100427054032-phpapp01] [slideshare id=3879226&doc=phpmeetupaprilapc-100427223208-phpapp02] You can also download my barebones Azure PHP code template here, if you are interested in trying to run your own PHP application on Windows Azure. Don’t forget that the one-stop location for everything you need to learn about and get started on Windows Azure is at this simple URL: www.windowsazure.com. Quote of the night comes from Chin Yong’s last slide:


RIAction and Hackerspace Windows Phone 7 App Development
Tue, 27 Apr 2010 06:20:21 +0000
Last week we had 2 developer sessions on Windows Phone 7 application development, RIAction (Apr 20) and Hackerspace (Apr 22).  The one we did in RIAction was similar to the sgdotnet session (Apr 16).  You can check out this post for the slides and links to resources that was shown in those first two sessions. Before we get into the details of the Hackerspace session, I would like to highlight some updates and additional info regarding the i.Match BizMatch session, which was supposedly this April 29th.


Project Nimbus in Code::XtremeApps 2010 24-hr programming competition
Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:54:50 +0000
Last April 21, Code::Xtreme was launched in SMU.  Code::Xtreme is a 24-hour competition organized by ITSC to create awareness on the use and value of standards in programming.  To find out more about CodeXtreme and how you can join, you can check out this site. This year, Microsoft Singapore is participating as a technology partner through Project Nimbus.  Project Nimbus is an “information marketplace” that allows developers to access hosted Singapore data.  It also allows content providers to host their data in a structured manner.  To find out more about Project Nimbus and how you can start accessing public data, check out this site. We will be running technical sessions to prepare participants for the competition.  To find out more about these, sign up in the Code::Xtreme link above.  Hope to see you there!


Dave Can Code, So Can You!
Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:12:06 +0000
Following the world wide Visual Studio 2010 launch (12th April), we had the honor to receive Dave Mendlen to share how to improve software development lifecycle using Visual Studio 2010 with the 30’ish audience – our selected customers and partners. Just so you know, Dave Mendlen is the Senior Director of Developer Marketing and also a keynote speaker at Visual Studio 2010 launch event held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dave was kind enough to detour to Singapore after his KL keynote session just to be with us for mere 24 hours before heading back home.  Dave Mendlen started his career in Microsoft as the lead product planner on .NET and Visual Studio. Prior to his current role, he also served as the speech writer for Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer. He was previously the Director of Web Services & also Director of Windows Product Management. He kicked off the lively session by sharing what happy development teams have in common and unhappy teams are unique on its own, just like how Leo Tolstoy describes happy and unhappy families in Anna Karenina.  As most of you would agree, resulting in tight schedule and little budget due to underestimating the project scope, not being able to reproduce the weird bugs which testers have reported, and mismatch design and implementation, etc. can sure make everyone in the team unhappy in one way or another.  I learned from his sharing that we have added a lot of new features in Visual Studio 2010 to address these pain points which we encounter day-to-day.  Dave helped the audience understand how the architecture designers can help ensure that the implementation conforms to the intended design, how Team Foundation Server dashboard provides clear visibility of the project at a glance, how Test Manager 2010 eliminate “no-repro” bugs in his hour-long interactive conversation. Here, you can find the slides used in his presentation. [slideshare id=3799990&doc=visualstudio2010alm-100421033913-phpapp01] Dave also passionately shared how the engineering and marketing teams had worked together to come up with the best ever release of Visual Studio and also the bold and brilliant move made in changing the product name as well as simplifying the product SKUs.  Will you believe we used Visual Studio 2010 to develop Visual Studio 2010?  Dave shared the statistics, database size, work item counts, and source code files, etc., of our internal Team Foundation Server, which is used by DevDiv - “Developer Division in Microsoft”.  This surprised the audience, especially on how we “dogfood” our products to ensure that they are ready for the customers. He wrapped up the session talking about our ALM partners who build extensions for both Visual Studio and Team Foundation Server


Silverlight 4 @ RIAction
Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:57:40 +0000
[slideshare id=3784514&doc=silverlight4-riaction-100420005059-phpapp02] I’ve also included the code for demo that we built during the session. You’ll need VS 2010 and/or Expression Blend 4 RC. Download the code here.


SGdotNET Windows Phone 7 App Development
Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:36:00 +0000
*Update: Following our RIAction event, I have updated this post with additional info, which I placed at the bottom.* *Update 4/26: Changed CFP date to May 13 Last Friday we held a Windows Phone 7 session in the SGdotNET user group meetup.  This is one of many WP7 developer events that we will have throughout the year.  We have provided below the deck and links to resources that we showed in that session.  We also look forward to meeting you in RIAction tomorrow! [slideshare id=3773057&doc=wp7sgdotnetapr162010-100419034218-phpapp02] Links:


Microsoft Cloud Week Summary
Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:22:06 +0000

Last week, we successfully held our Microsoft Cloud Week series of events at our offices at One Marina Boulevard. Over 400 people in total came to our events last week to learn more about Microsoft’s cloud computing strategy and vision, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of what our Windows Azure Platform offers our customers and partners. Thanks to everyone who dropped by our offices and made our event a resounding success! The highlight of the week, of course, is the MSDN Presents: Windows Azure Platform event on Tues – headlined by David Chappell and Chris Auld who both presented wonderful sessions for us on Windows Azure. We have received a significant number of requests for their presentation slides, so here are their presentations, as well as all of the other presentation slides presented on that day: [slideshare id=3766900&doc=cloudweek-johnfernandesopening-100418112217-phpapp01] [slideshare id=3767378&doc=thewindowsazureplatform-aperspective-chappell-100418121731-phpapp02] [slideshare id=3767490&doc=singaporeazureweek-100418123116-phpapp01] [slideshare id=3767374&doc=visualstudio2010-aperspective-chappell-100418121644-phpapp01] [slideshare id=3766931&doc=practicalcloud-mar-2010v5-100418112833-phpapp02] [slideshare id=3766551&doc=azurencslupyuenv0-1-100418104050-phpapp02] [slideshare id=3766608&doc=cloudplatformstoday-chappell-100418104934-phpapp01] (This slide deck was presented by David Chappell to a group of CXOs in an invitation-only roundtable discussion after the event, but we think it’s useful to share this as well). We also have presentation slides that were presented during the SCS event the previous night. Again, thanks for coming, and hope to see you guys at future Microsoft events! [gallery link=“file” orderby=“rand”]


The Microsoft Cloud @ SCS Cloud Computing SIG
Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:01:49 +0000
Earlier this week, we hosted the Singapore Computer Society (SCS) Cloud Computing and Virtualization Special Interest Group (SIG) at our Microsoft offices for a talk on Microsoft’s cloud computing strategy. This event was the first of their “Cloud Computing Learning Journey into Major Cloud Providers” series of talks which they are organizing for their members. This was also one of the events which kicked-off our Microsoft Cloud Week this week. The turnout was fabulous (100+ attendees), and we all had a lot of fun sharing with the SCS folks what Microsoft is doing with the cloud. [gallery link=“file” orderby=“rand”] Here are the presentation slides from that night: [slideshare id=3743394&doc=scsopeningjohnfernandes-100416021239-phpapp01] [slideshare id=3743390&doc=scsmicrosoftcloudserviceswalterbenjamin-100416021208-phpapp02] [slideshare id=3743398&doc=scsprojectnimbusnenggiinyap-100416021239-phpapp02] [slideshare id=3743401&doc=scswindowsazureplatformjonathanwong-100416021257-phpapp02] [slideshare id=3743387&doc=scsddcdarrylchantry-100416021137-phpapp01]


MSDN Mix-It-Up and TechNet Event
Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:02:17 +0000


Thank you everybody for attending our MSDN Mix-It-Up and TechNet Event on Mar 25. For everybody who wants the slides here they are: For MSDN Mix It Up slides here. For TechNet Event slides here Keep posted on our future events here. Subscribe to our RSS feed or follow us on Twitter or Facebook!